And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. (Genesis 35:20)
In 2001, Tiffany Jansen, Gloria Dettleff and Dorothy Falk visited St Felicita's Catholic Cemetery in Beaver Prairie, Wheatfield Township. They found one sturdy wooden cross (see above) still standing. It measures 50 inches tall and 30 inches across and was constructed with 2 inch x 4 inch boards. It is weathered and some grain has been eroded. The name and dates are no longer visible except for a possible "ich" for a first name. That could be Heinrich or Friederich, etc. This precious relic from the past was the inspiration for our Tombstone Photo Project.
Unfortunately, even stone does not last forever. Many of our cemeteries are showing the ravages of time. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (external link) reminds us,
"They [cemeteries] are memorials to the past that offer a unique view of our history, culture, and way of life. Their existence adds much to our understanding of the history of Illinois and its people."
The Clinton County ILGenWeb Project would like to challenge you to Save a Tombstone with a photo. Since its beginnings in 2008, we have collected over 9,000 photos in over 50 cemeteries.
If you would like to participate, just Upload your photo directly to our Photo Gallery. Just select the 'Upload' album, 'Browse' your PC for the photo, and fill in some 'description' information. If you have a large number of photos, please Contact Us. We have many other options.
You may also want to Register as a User of the Photo Gallery. Registering gives you more upload options, allows you to make comments on the photos, and to create your own Favorites list.