Take a tour of Oak Hill Cemetery

To the editor:

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, (first called Rose Hill Cemetery) has an address of 1705 Mount Vernon Road S.E. If you live in that area of town, you probably have driven by it many times.

I had been told that a book on the history of the cemetery had been written by Jane and Carl Thoresen. Come to find out, Carl is the cemetery superintendent and Jane, his wife, is a historian and computer whiz. Together, they authored and designed a most valuable and interesting 92-page record (with map). Each statement, story, picture and burial site is accurately described for a reader.

Many of our city's movers and shakers can be found buried here; personalities such as Messrs. Armstrong, Bever, Cherry, Douglas, Dows, Ely, Higley, Greene and Hall to name but a few. There are also many fantastic mausoleums and obelisks to view, two special veteran sections and a story with pictures about the old main entrance at 15th street and Mount Vernon Road.

Want to take a tour? Call and set a time with Carl for you and family, or a group of friends, to explore this area. You will be amazed at what you will see.

One last piece of information. If you wish to help conserve the cemetery grounds, you can donate to the Oak Hill Cemetery Improvement Fund at Hills Bank and Trust Company. As a not-for-profit, it is considered a charitable deduction at tax time.

David H. Burke

Cedar Rapids