Name/Title
Cemetery, Recording Angel, Forest Mound Cemetery Nears Century MarkDescription
Note: The date written on the top of the page appears to be August 23, 1962. I would also like to point out that the caption under the photo is "The Guardian Angel" while most of us have always called her "The Recording Angel." This is a photocopy of the newspaper article.
Forest Mound Cemetery Nears Century Mark
Caption under photo: [The Guardian Angel]
The men who started the Forest Mound Cemetery Nov. 16, 1862 planned well - exceedingly well.
They did because the cemetery which will be 100 years old next November will be able to serve the community's needs for the next 40 to 50 years. The good planning that the original officers of the association did has been carried on down through the years by their successors.
As evidence of this consider the land acquisitions to enlarge the cemetery and the investments the organization has been able to make to assure the cemetery's future.
Records show the Forest Mound Cemetery Association has approximately $120,000 in funds invested locally. The major share of the money is invested in top grade real estate.
First president of the association was G. W. Bly. Other members of the original board included: Thomas Oliver, Thomas Stoddart, Charles Jones, T. W. Markle, W. L. Satterfield, A. W. McNaughton, W. H. Hobkirk and W. H. Taylor. Those men were community leaders in their day.
In the years since many other community leaders have served as members of the board of trustees.
One of the longest records of board service still belongs to the late Ben Kastein. Mr. Kastein started his years on the board Dec. 2, 1918. He served as secretary for many of those years. He served on the board a total of 42 years. E. W. Hooker, a member of the present board, is approaching Mr. Kastein's longevity record. Mr. Hooker has been a member of the board since 1928-34 years.
Down the years there have been changes. Oct. 5, 1897 for instance, there was a reorganization of the association. Then in 1909 perpetual care became a part of the purchase price.
Leif Olson, secretary-treasurer of the association, is a walking encyclopedia of facts concerning the Forest Mound Cemetery. For instance he points out that there are 2,098 lot owners ... and 4,278 burials have been made since the first recorded burial in 1863.
Among the burials are 233 servicemen. Included in this number are veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II and the Korean conflict.
Mr. Olson said that many tourists who travel through Waupun write back to purchase lots because they have been so impressed by the beauty of the cemetery. Two of the most unique markers - a huge boulder and a piece of granite standing on end - mark the resting places of non-residents.
The fence across the front of the cemetery land was once the fence closing in the Eli Hooker property on Main street. The fence stretched past what is now the Leader-News office down to the vicinity of the Kroger store.
The land on which the "End of the Trail" statue stands was donated by the Forest Mound Cemetery Association according to Mr. Olson.
One of the most striking things about the cemetery outside of its natural beauty is the huge statue of the guardian angel watching over the remains of the departed.
Down through the years members of the boards have bent every effort to continue the area as a beauty spot that attracted the original founders. In the past year alone about 200 trees have been planted.
The plot includes about 16 to 17 acres.
One rule of thumb that cemetery boards have worked by for years is the method of handling the perpetual care feature. They take one-third of the original purchase price and put it into perpetual care. In this way the organization's officials feel they are assuring, the financial future of the cemetery. Their perpetual care plan differs from other cemeteries in that the others dedicate less to perpetual care. In all cases the actual lot purchase price at Forest Mound does not exceed prices elsewhere.
Mr. Olson remarked that in the new development a new section has been specifically set aside for flat markers.
Current trustees include Dr. H. E. Luck, president; Dr. N. E. W. Lenz, vice-president; E. W. Hooker, Norman Evenson, Edward Nummerdor, Clarence VandeZande, Dr. J. H. Loomans, Drew Pattee and Mr. Olson; secretary-treasurer.Acquisition
Accession
2011.0400Source or Donor
Judith GatzkeAcquisition Method
Donation