Page 75

STANWOOD CEMETERY

       In April 1877 a meeting of the citizens of Stanwood was held to promote the purchase of a plot of ground for cemetery purposes. In June 1877 C. A. Preston purchased one acre of ground situated in the S.W. quarter of Section 25, on a beautiful gently sloping knoll, south of Stanwood. Mr. Preston reserved a lot for his own use at the time the lots were laid out. His child was the first burial in the cemetery.

       Lots at first sold at $8.00 and later $10.00. Presently the selling price for a full lot is $100.00, including perpetual care. In 1912 the caretaker was paid twenty-five cents per hour; today’s cost is $125.00 per month for a period of eight months.

       Women were admitted to membership in the association in 1911 and before 1959 women had full charge. The ladies started to earn money for improvements by sponsoring bake sales, chicken suppers, ice cream socials, home talent plays, and lecture courses. One of their anticipated projects was to provide a sidewalk from town to the cemetery, but the estimated cost of $784.00 was too great and the idea was abandoned. Later their funds were used to erect an ornamental fence and concrete driveways which were completed in 1923. In 1938 additional land to the north was purchased for $150.00 and in 1940 the Scotch Grove Nursery landscaped the grounds by setting out many new shrubs. A fence along the west part of the new addition was completed in the fall of 1958 with donated labor.

       Over the many years conscientious caretakers have labored diligently and carefully to keep it a well maintained and beautiful cemetery.