Please Don't Quote Me By Caralee Aschenbrenner PART II "An object was falling through the sky that day in May, 1898. Tom Lundy, out of sorts from the oppressive heat, couldn't figure out what it was. Twirling ever so slowly towards him, it drifted like a maple seed, floating nearer, nearer. "Around, around; he was mesmerized by it as it came slowly until with a thud it landed end up in the turned furrow he'd just plowed. A neatly chopped piece of cord wood. Cord wood raining from the sky! He looked up quickly for fear of a deluge. Practically, he grabbed the piece of wood for later use, deciding if it was raining wood it was time to git. He got."

The above, in part, was from PDQ Me (the book) from May 11, 1988 telling about the cyclone which in 1898 cut a swath across the entire width of Carroll County, killing several people, demolishing over three dozen houses, innumerable barns and outbuildings, much livestock. The heretofore "South Lanark Road" ever after was known as "Cyclone Ridge Road," cyclones then, tornados now.

The cyclone hit the southeast edge of Lanark, destroying much of the original part of the cemetery, toppling monuments, many never to be repaired or replaced. The only grave marker standing, it was reported, was on the Dame plot, the tall, precious angel with overlooks that section of the cemetery. At least half the monuments in the newer section were overturned, many of them unable to be repaired either. Although great effort was afterward exerted, many were never returned to the whole. Some of the records were lost also ... "A valuable history gone."

Some thirty years later, 1928, lightning struck the "tool shed" with the resultant fire destroying it entirely as well as "previous records," tools and equipment. It was immediately rebuilt ($900.00) and served many years until this year, 2008, it was upgraded with water, water heater, septic, furnace and furniture. It had long served as a make-do office but presently is more comfortable when cemetery business is being done too.

The cumbersome, old fashioned alphabetized ledgers used since inception to record lots and plots were retired to be replaced by the pertinent information being entered into a modern computer software program. A lap top with printer specifically designed for cemetery use was purchased by the city council, the cost being just above $10,000.00 for the efficiency and capability of such technology. A permanent record. Along with the usual data much other information can be stored such as military, infant, cremations and other specifics. Entries are color-coded to help in understanding and reading in search. A brochure to explain the method has been compiled by Norm Brinkmeier, Lanark accountant, and cemetery board member, who entered all the information. An estimated 500 hours was taken up in that project. Information was taken from the ledgers, blocks and lots and names and dates, which were cross-checked with the 1970s inventory made of county cemeteries by the Carroll County Genealogical Society. All computer data is backed up by CDs which are stored at the bank and at city hall for the sake of safety and permanency. Thanks, Norm, for this job well done, the dedication and consistency of effort.

It is an immense step forward in the development of cemetery evolution and reflects the nearly one hundred fifty years of the cemetery's history.

The Methodist burying ground was acquired by the city in 1880-81 when the city began purchasing land adjacent to the church's yard, twenty years after it had begun, 1860, when the denomination "moved to town (last week)."

The names of the trustees, council members, board members, custodians with a few exceptions will not be mentioned for lack of space. They are on record at the Lanark Public Library, however.

Acquisition of the first acreage in '80-'81 was a "citifying" step. Editor of the Gazette, Frank Livermore, accompanied by cemetery committee member, Ed Glotfelty, made a trip to the new plot to report in the weekly ... "It is one of the most beautiful sites in the vicinity. The ground is gently rolling and a summit in the center commands a view that is rarely equalled. We are glad to note the council is taking vigorous and active measures to get the grounds in readiness for occupancy and in a systematic and business-like manner."

One of the first orders of business in the evolving program was the planting of trees, shrubs and hedges. And to change the entry from the southeast corner to the north "gate," accessible to the town's residents. The entrance drive would be a quarter mile long, dramatic yet serene. At one period several benches lined the way also on which strollers could rest and visit. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was an era when cemeteries were often destinations for a Sunday walk, a tryst, even a picnic, according to stories told me by participants!

Popular postcards often showed the cemetery as subject, one of which was titled, "The Last Drive!" An album, 1904, from which a few pictures are seen here, picture the hedge rows from that far back and trees, too, which had been on the agenda in 1881 ... 20 hard maples at 626 each, 23 soft maples at 25¢ each, 54 box elders at 25¢ each, 32 white ash at 25¢ each, 31 elm at 35¢ each ... An ambitious beginning.

Three circles of trees, two evergreen and one of hard maple were to be planted with shade trees surrounding the whole, a picket fence on the north edge where the new entrance was to be placed. The three circles of trees have decreased to two (?), the pines on the center drive, north-south, remain though somewhat weak in appearance! To their east the hard maple circle has long been the traditional site of the Memorial Day programa tribute to military Veterans and deceased loved ones. In 2008 a granite memorial wall was dedicated with Congressman Don Manzullo the speaker. Patriotic icons decorate the site which was given by the Eckburg family a few years ago.

Individual Veterans names in stone, all wars, line the granite wall, the backdrop. A lighted American flag flies 24/7.

In 1881 as lots were surveyed and staked it was announced that they'd be sold for six to twenty-five dollars according to location. And as acreage has been added, that, too, on file for your curiosity, more than thirty-five acres have been developed with another eight-ten yet to be maintained in future. There is thought to be room for at least 9,000 burials, 5,000 of which have already been entered.

As in all things, projects are in the works at all times. The weary, overgrown arborvitae hedge was removed by the city maintenance department in a two year program because in many places it had swallowed up gravestones, overgrown over them as well as expanding so far out into the drives that maintenance trucks and snow plows could not pass through. Since their removal the city has included the drive in the town's paving programs the past two years, tarring and graveling them to the cemetery's advantage. It is a far cry from the first coverings of ashes from the nearby school's coal-burning furnace!

Long time businessman, William Hess was credited with that idea to cover over the dirt roads heretofore. Later, it was reported cinders from the railroad yards at the C.M. St. P. Line in Savanna were obtained for the same purpose. Were they free for the hauling? But sharp and bumpy? Mr. Hess and the other board members had a more serious problem, however, with roads ... Rather, the highway.

In the late 1920s Rt. 27, present day Rt. 64/52 was being surveyed through Illinois. It was first to pass through the south sections of the cemetery. "After considerable controversy," reference said, Mr. Hess and the others having several meetings with the Illinois transportation department, they eventually got the route to be moved to the edge of the grounds so as not to disturb the purchased property. Much effort and energy was put into that incident, it was reported.

In 1912 the Lanark City Council ceased its immediate direction of the cemetery, instead appointing a three-member committee from residents which serves to this day. Their management, however, is responsive to the city council. The endowment system, as mentioned last week was put into practice at that time also so that on purchase of a lot the money is invested and the interest is used for any cemetery expense. The caretaker thus does not have to collect fees from individual lot owners as before!

While the budget runs close, the city council has been understanding, helpful and generous for specific projects which has been seen the past couple
years as new ideas and projects have risen. The Lanark cemetery's budget, however, has been assisted with the unusual beneficence of financial help from the estate of a Lanark resident in the 1970s, the late Julia Cea, who willed farmland property to the city. The farm property rental monies according to the will can be used "for the maintenance and improvement of the Lanark City Cemetery." Miss Cea's generosity is to be commended. A sensor tower which can be seen just two miles south of town on Benson Road measures air current in anticipation of a wind tower to generate electricity. Cemeteries have amazing history in connection to them!

The horse is hitched to a mower but it didn't copy well!

Fads and fashions, according to the times in the county, affect cemeteries as well as other things. A large cornet band, the most ever assembled in the county, marched to the cemetery for the funeral of Gazette editor, John Howlett in 1875. The very first all-automobile cortege, no horse drawn vehicles, escorted Mrs. Dr. Haller, Elizabeth, to the grave, 1911. All grade school children (and teachers) had to march, carrying flags and bouquets, to the cemetery every Memorial Day to decorate graves of veterans. Each town, like Lanark, had its tradition in connection with their cemetery, a vital part of its history.

Tasteful wrought iron gates, $1,000.00 each, once spanned the north and south gates, erected in the early 1890's (see). Plain brick pillars replaced them. At this time trees are again needed as well as shrubs or hedges at corners for accents. There is continuous need for attention somewhere but the current sexton, Amy Milby, does such an excellent job of the immediate and anticipating the future, that many thanks are due her. Thanks, Amy.

The other two board members besides Mr. Brinkmeier, are LeRoy Hasbrouck and Conrad Aschenbrenner who are "hands-on" committeemen, helping often with the heavy work, expediting many jobs, planning ahead as money allows. They just completed installing posts at every block, numbered, to direct searchers to the correct plots in looking for a grave site or for genealogist of which there are surprising numbers.

The Lanark Cemetery has had a long history, ups and downs, uncommon occurrences and a host of differing ideas which were to make it attractive such as in 1907 when this item appeared in the local weekly ... "The work at the cemetery is in charge of B.F. Sword who spends much of his time in extra work and spending his own money for improvements. A G.A.R. bed has a century plant fifty years old. Lilies are planted in well-arranged style. Another bed is composed of musa cannas, alternate green with bronze edges. Burbank cannas in numbers 153, ten varieties and costing $17.50, decorate one bed. The largest bed is 36 feet in diameter in the form of a star, cannas in the center and about three feet from the center is planted scarlet sage with the outside a border of asters. When they are in bloom they ought to give much added beauty."

Comment on this story

Go back to Prairie Advocate Home Page