Uncertain Legacies
In Our Large Parks

THE INCREASE IN THE SIZE
of tracts purchased by the Illinois Department of Conservation for state parks has added one facility at several of these areas that is somewhat unusual, cemeteries. Several state parks have now, and more will likely encompass in the near future as they expand, a variety of burial places. Other park agencies, especially those located in rural areas where cemeteries are numerous, can expect to acquire cemeteries as their parks are enlarged.

The most common of these park cemeteries are long abandoned burial sites of settlers of the nineteenth century which have been engulfed by expanding parks.

Sam Parr State Park, a facility to open in 1972 near Newton, has two as does Pere Marquette near Alton. Kickapoo State Park near Danville, contains one and is planned for expansion which may include two

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Monks Mound at Cahokia State Park near east St. Louis is one of the largest Indian burial sites in the United States. Erosion and undesirable woody growth are major maintenance problems at mounds where management is provided.

additional cemeteries of nineteenth century vintage.

Other Illinois parks which contain abandoned cemeteries include Stephen A. Forbes near Salem, Eldon Hazlett on Carlyle Reservoir, Sanchris near Springfield, and Spring Lake near Manito. Still others are Starved Rock near Ottawa, Apple River Canyon near Stockton, Fort Kaskaskia near Chester, Saline County near Harrisburg, Lincoln's New Salem at Petersburg, and Kankakee River at Kankakee.

The second category of burial places found in Illinois parks are Indian burial sites. Cahokia Mounds near East St. Louis is one of the best known prehistoric Indian burial grounds managed by the Department's Division of Parks and Memorials. An area containing the grave of an important Potowatomie Chief, Shaw-wa-na-see, has recently been acquired and added to Kankakee River State Park. In addition, students from the University of Illinois have recently made studies at a prehistoric Indian mound which is expected to be annexed to Kickapoo State Park.

Still-active cemeteries are a third type to be found surrounded by large parks. One of this nature is in operation at Kickapoo State Park within 100 yards of the park's main pavilion. Another can be found at Illinois State Park East at the Shelbyville Reservoir.

Problems arise from the addition of cemeteries to the more typical park facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas, fish

A picnic area is visible in the distance from the Smith Cemetery located inside the main entrance of Kankakee River State Park.

ing lakes and trails. Maintenance is probably the major problem. With shorthanded park crews, it is difficult, if not impossible, to keep many of these areas mowed and fenced properly. Grave sinkage may be a problem and vandalism is, unfortunately, too common.

Upright headstones are apparently challenges to vandals and present solutions, include fencing the cemetery and laying the headstone in concrete, both solutions having disadvantages. Fences keep out everyone, including park visitors interested in viewing the old monuments. A concrete bed detracts from the stone and may cause deterioration of old markers laid flat due to wear from foot traffic and ice expansion. Night patroling is usually out of the question due to manpower shortages and lighting is not financially feasible.

Potential problems of cemeteries located in an area of park development include delays in acquisition and the possible need for disinterment if a particular area is to be used for a non-compatible purpose such as a lake. Disinterment proceedings can be lengthly and expensive and the possibility of a damage suit is present. Acquisition of cemeteries can require major improvements at old sites not in good upkeep, such as the one expected to be added at Kickapoo State Park, or involve extra expense to provide road access to a location far from other use areas.

At Indian burial sites other problems present themselves. Grave robbing or "potting" is probably the biggest where security is not available. Display and control of relic discoveries can lead to inter-agency arguments, including the question of to whom relics belong, the discoverer or the landowner. Ethical questions of the propriety of opening graves of America's first settlers is another possible problem.

Fortunately, along with the problems mentioned, there may also be assets in park burial sites. In the cemeteries of early settlers, cultural and historical information is readily available to the school class, family in the park, or other casual visitor. The origins of the first Europeans to settle the area can be determined through their names. Dates of epidemics may be discovered by finding years of high death rates. Insight can be gain-

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LEGACIES

The difficult life of early settlers can often be easily observed through headstones such as this showing death at an early age. Note headstone has been set in cement to reduce vandalism.

ed into the hard life of the settlers by noting the many instances of early death.

Other information concerning early settlers can often be learned from studying the old cemeteries. In areas where the vegetation has not been seriously disturbed, some of the original plantings may be present. Additionally, the location of a cemetery on a hilltop may indicate a swampy lowland long since drained by field tile.

The value of public possession of Indian places of burial lies mainly in the protection of these areas from selfish exploitation or accidental destruction. Reserved areas where experts in the fields of archeology and physical anthropology can explore and demonstrate early man's presence in the particular area are of great potential value

Vandalism and long neglect are evident in this cemetery which is expected to be added to Kickapoo State Park in the future.

from a cultural point of view. Relics and data discovered in these studies may give us a better picture of what life must have been like during the prehistoric times of the various Indian inhabitants of the area. The possibility of park visitors being able to view relics of an earlier era in or near their natural setting may have more educational impact than a similar relic viewed in a museum or book.

Although they generally present mixed blessings, cemeteries and other places of burial appear to be inherent to the large tracts of property that are being developed as county, district and, especially, state parks in Illinois.

There is a challenge, therefore, that the best possible utilization be made from these unusual features so that their presence be an asset.

It is possible that proper use of an old cemetery, either Indian or European, could add as much to a park historically as the proper care of a park's trees can mean for the study of dendrology or an aggressive naturalist program for the study of ecology. The understanding of our ties to the past should be as valid in a park as the understanding of nature. Enhancement of such knowledge alone may offset the extra effort and expense required by cemeteries in our parks.

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