South Mound Cemetery is officially 'Historic' By FRANKI ZILE fzile@thecouriertimes.com The residents of this community have long known that South Mound Cemetery is a special place. But now it's official. South Mound Cemetery has been designated as a historic cemetery on the Indiana Cemetery and Burial Grounds Registry for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. But organizers of the effort to designate the cemetery as such are looking for assistance in getting several other local cemeteries recognized, too. The honor bestowed on South Mound makes it the first in Henry County to be designated on the state registry. In honor of that designation, new signs will be installed recognizing the accomplishment. South Mound Cemetery Superintendent Chip England said a sign at the Cherry Street entrance should be installed by next week. Another sign at the Bundy Avenue entrance will take a little longer because officials are planning a more formal mounting for the sign at that entrance. England said the state designation is just the first step in getting the cemetery acknowledged on the national registry of historic places. England said this is a goal not only to recognize the cemetery's importance and heritage, but also to assist in securing grant funding for future renovation and preservation projects. "We really feel we're kind of unique because of the lay of the land and who is interred here," England said. "We have some captains of industry and other historical (figures.)" England cited the Ingersoll family of steel industry fame, Jesse French of the Jesse French Piano Factory and Civil War General William Grose as some of the more notable people buried in the New Castle cemetery. The effort to get the cemetery included on the state registry is through the assistance "Bud" Bush and the Henry County Cemetery Commission. Bush, long known for his commitment to preserving local cemeteries, has spent numerous hours cataloging information on all the county's more than 120 pioneer cemeteries - those more than 100 years old - in order to make them eligible for the state registry. Now, officials are hoping to find local businesses, organizations or individuals to help sponsor registry signs for other local cemeteries. The inclusion of a cemetery on the registry also means its information will be accessible on a statewide data base that is being compiled, Bush explained. The database includes information on the cemetery's location, those who are buried there and more. Bush said this type of information is very important in maintaining local history. But it also is invaluable to those researching genealogy through the Internet from around the world. Bush added that it is an exhaustive process to get on the state registry. Information and documentation has to be researched and is double checked by the state cemetery registry officials. But the effort is painstakingly done in order to make sure the information and database will be accurate, Bush explained. Officials said they are encouraged by the recent efforts and interests in local cemeteries and their history. "It's kind of nice that the community is starting to take an interest in these cemeteries," England said. "If you take the time to read the epitaph, you can learn a lot of history." "You can get the complete history of a town just by the tombstones," Bush added. "And the cemetery commission has been working hard to make sure they are protected." But cemeteries often go beyond just being a final resting place for someone's loved one. England said South Mound is becoming a popular place for walkers. It serves as a safe, quiet place for meditation, he explained. And, he added, state officials were quite impressed with the public's use of the 112-acre cemetery, not including Westlawn Addition. England said officials are planning to make improvements to the facility in the near future, including repairs to the Gen. Grose family graves and the dedication of the reinternment of a Revolutionary War soldier who had been moved to South Mound from another cemetery. But England and Bush said the community's help is needed to assist officials in keeping local aging cemeteries maintained and repaired. England said he would love to see organizations, churches or individuals from the community volunteer to help do some additional maintenance in the older portions of the cemetery, such as to clean some of the 100-plus-year-old stones. "It's a great way to spend a couple hours," England said. Bush said the community's help also is needed to sponsor signs for designating cemeteries on the state registry. Sign sponsorship is about $130. Bush said practically all the county's cemeteries qualify for designation. A few families and groups have already stepped forward to sponsor signs, but much more assistance is needed. Both Bush and England have high hopes for the local cemeteries and the registry listings. They also hope the community will continue to support the effort in helping to maintain local history through this means. "You have to preserve your history and history is best preserved in cemeteries," England said. Anyone wanting more information on volunteering clean-up efforts at South Mound can contact England there at 521-6850. Anyone wanting more information about sponsoring a cemetery sign elsewhere in the county, the state registry or the county's cemetery commission, contact Bush at 521-4149 or at his Web site at www.hcgs.net.