Cemetery

Entrance photo taken by Don Blake

Beacon Hollow Cemetery

Mental Health Institute

The State Hospital Cemetery

Every city has its graveyard. So too the "City on the Hill" has its burying place. Through the years 829 persons who passed away at the hospital found their final rest in the hospital cemetery.
The five acre plot is now detached from the major campus but remains the property of the state.
The first burial was made in the cemetery in March of 1907 and the last in November of 1962.
All but one of the grave markers bear neither names nor epitaphs or birth or death dates; only numbers. These numbers correspond to a master list of names maintained by the hospital. The cemetery is maintained by the Mental Health Institutes grounds department.
(Source: Cherokee County Historical Society Newsletter, Special August - September Issue, Vol. 12, No. 7, 1977, pg. 10)

A native boulder sits amidst the boles of 13 large trees on the campus lawn in front of the Main Building. This stone and the bronze plaque affixed to it mark the final resting place of Dr. George Donohoe, Superintendent of the Institution from 1915 to 1932. At his own request he was buried there, in a spot overlooking the extensive grounds to the east. This is oneen of the unique and little known features of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute.
Why he chose this final resting place is a mystery whose answer died with theman buried there, but choose the spot he did, and his wish was respected. Printed on the bronze plaque is the following:

In Memory
Dr. George Donohoe

Born 1876
Died 1932

Link to Dr. Donohoe's Obituary

Click image to enlarge

(Article Source: Cherokee County Historical Society Newsletter, Special August - September Issue, Vol. 12, No. 7, 1977, pg. 7)

Link to Iowa Gravestone Project for Beacon Hollow Cemetery