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Historic Oak Hill Cemetery caretaker’s home to soon disappear
23
Jun 2016

Historic Oak Hill Cemetery caretaker’s home to soon disappear

The former caretaker's house at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will soon be demolished. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The former caretaker’s house at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will soon be demolished after a demolition request from the cemetery’s board was approved on June 9, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

By Cindy Hadish/Save CR Heritage

A building on the National Register of Historic Places at Oak Hill Cemetery will soon become a ghost of the past.

Built around 1920, the caretaker’s house, at 1705 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, is slated for demolition in the coming weeks. The home is considered a contributing structure to the Oak Hill Cemetery Historic District.

Oak Hill Cemetery representatives said the caretaker's house had fallen into disrepair after becoming a rental home. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Oak Hill Cemetery representatives said the caretaker’s house had fallen into disrepair after becoming a rental home. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Representatives of the cemetery appeared before the city’s Historic Preservation Commission earlier this month to discuss the demolition application.

Jane and Carl Thoresen, who serve as Oak Hill’s historian and superintendent, said the caretaker’s home had become a rental property in the 1990s and was boarded up in 2012.

“We just don’t have the money,” Carl Thoresen said of the costs to make repairs to the home.

Located along Mount Vernon Road and 15th Street SE, the cemetery was established in 1854 and is the final resting place for Cedar Rapids pioneers such as Judge George Greene and Sampson Bever.

The Cedar Rapids architectural firm of Josselyn & Taylor designed the stone front entrance and decorative iron gate, and members of the Historic Preservation Commission suggested that the firm also may have designed some of the cemetery’s buildings.

Commission chairwoman Amanda McKnight Grafton said grants and other resources may be available to restore the cemetery’s barn, which features a cupola along the roof ridge.

The Oak Hill Cemetery's barn is also in danger of being demolished. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Oak Hill Cemetery’s barn is also in danger of being demolished. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Jane Thoresen said there was no information on the origin of the barn, thought to have been built in the 1890s, which has also fallen into disrepair, as has the cemetery’s storage shed.

The cemetery board has no interest in keeping any of the buildings, she said, adding that efforts at fundraising have not been successful.

“People want their charitable dollars to help the living, not the dead,” Thoresen said.

The commission voted to allow the demolition to proceed, with the stipulation that the group be notified before the shed and barn are to be demolished. Members Bob Grafton and Tim Oberbroeckling voted against releasing the house for demolition.

“It bothers me to see a building sit and let it decompose,” Oberbroeckling said, calling the process “demolition by neglect.”

Buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places are not protected from demolition. In 2011, the former People’s Church, at Sixth Street and Third Avenue SE, become the first building in Cedar Rapids listed on the National Register of Historic Places to be demolished, without having been damaged by fire or natural disaster. A new office building was constructed in its place.

A shed at Oak Hill Cemetery, considered a contributing structure to the historic cemetery, will likely be demolished, as well. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A shed at Oak Hill Cemetery, considered a contributing structure to the historic cemetery, will likely be demolished, as well. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Linda Langston, one of three Oak Hill Cemetery board members, along with C. John Linge and Greg Seyfer, said in an email that the deterioration of the caretaker’s home has been discussed for quite some time.

“Our challenge has been and continues to be funding,” Langston wrote, noting that only the interest on the perpetual care fund can be accessed to use. “We are a very small board and sad to say with the main focus being finding funding to do general upkeep. Trees have been a major problem. Many are old and during storms get damaged. Tree removal is very expensive and we are usually behind.”

Langston noted that Oak Hill Cemetery has about $800,000 in its perpetual care fund, which generates about $25,000 to $38,000 in interest annually. Depending on the year, the cemetery generally needs about $30,000 to $40,000 for upkeep and salaries.

“Often the board members have added funding out of their own pocket,” she said. “John (Linge,) like his father before him has been very generous with Cedar Memorial support of materials and people support.”

Find more information about Oak Hill Cemetery at: www.oakhillcemeterycr.com

Board member Linda Langston said removing dead trees is one of the financial challenges facing Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Board member Linda Langston said removing dead trees is one of the financial challenges facing Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Oak Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many Cedar Rapids pioneers. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Oak Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many Cedar Rapids pioneers. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A decorative iron gate is among the architectural features at the historic Oak Hill Cemetery. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A decorative iron gate is among the architectural features at the historic Oak Hill Cemetery. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The entrance to Oak Hill Cemetery was designed by Cedar Rapids architects Josselyn & Taylor. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The entrance to Oak Hill Cemetery – minus the newer sign – was designed by Cedar Rapids architects Josselyn & Taylor. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

2 comments

Scott W

Oak Hill Cemetery looks like a lovely spot for a final rest. As a born-and-raised native of Cedar Rapids, I am (was?) considering Oak Hill Cemetery. I am wondering if the cemetery is still on ongoing affair, however. I don’t “do” Facebook, but their page makes it seem like they really need some business. Two of Oak Hill’s buildings have been torn down due to lack of maintenance funds. History lost.

A business has hours and takes calls. A gentleman named “Carl”, who identifies as the superintendent, doesn’t seem interested in taking calls at all. I’ve left three voicemails. I have terminal cancer with a short time left. I’ve told them this. I’m lacking the energy to chase down a business. I live in Pittsburgh, currently, but with no real ties here. If Cedar Rapids doesn’t want me, and that is how Carl is making me feel, I’ll be buried here in Da burgh. Pittsburgh takes calls.

It appears the community supports Oak Hill, but should they be doing that? I’m not feeling the “Cedar Rapids” from Carl and Oak Hill Cemetery.

    Cindy Hadish

    Thank you for your message, Scott. So sorry to hear about the response, or non-response, that you’ve received and what you’re going through with your health. We’ll reach out to you via email and try to connect you to someone from the cemetery’s Board of Directors.

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