208. Fountain Park Cemetery Is 100 Years Old.

Blog Post Number 208.  

Fountain Park Cemetery Is 100 Years Old. 

News-Gazette, May 24, 1980.

  In addition to the traditional Memorial Day service Monday at Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester, there will also be an observance of the 100th anniversary of the cemetery.

  Fountain Park Cemetery, dedicated on July 3, 1880, with an impressive ceremony, was donated to the town of Winchester on March 1, 1880, by Ashael STONE and his wife.

  In making the presentation to the city trustees, Gen. Stone said: "For a number of years I have, in common with the most of our citizens, felt the importance of having a suitable and respectable cemetery located near our town, of sufficient size to accommodate the wants of this community for a great many years to come, laid out with taste and modern engineering skill and improvement, with all necessary arrangements to have the same always kept in good condition; to be in all respects a suitable place for burial of ourselves and others. And as others have done, we should set apart a spot of earth to hold the dust that once was love, and engage art and wealth in its adornment."

  The formal dedication ceremonies began at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 1880, with a procession to the cemetery that included a band, The Odd Fellows, Masons and Knights of Honor, and people 
on foot, on horseback, in buggies, carriages, farm wagons, spring wagons and other vehicles." A book published in connection with the dedication describes the procession as a "vast, royal holiday pageant, worthy of the occasion." 

  The first board of control of Fountain Park Cemetery consisted of Gen. Stone, H. H. NEFF and T. W. KIZER. 

  Among those speaking during the dedication ceremonies were: the Rev. B. F. Foster of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hon. Thomas M. BROWNE, the Rev. A. J. LUELLAN, and many other dignitaries.

  Also included in the book about the dedication of Fountain Park Cemetery was a brief history of the cemeteries in Winchester. The account states: "In the year of 1834, the first regular place of burial was established by one Chas. CONWAY, then a prominent citizen. The spot designed was situated immediately east of and adjoining the ground now occupied by the Christian church (the Church of the Nazarene is located there now but at that time it was the Disciples Christian Church) in Cheney and Watson's addition to the town of Winchester. It was the original intention to locate the cemetery east of Salt Creek, but for some cause the idea was abandoned. The remains buried in this cemetery were subsequently disinterred and removed to other places for burial. Ten years later, in the year of 1844, there was a demand, on the part of our citizens, for a new cemetery, and David HEASTON allowed them to use a small portion of his land laying southwest from town within a bend in Mud Creek (known for years as the "old cemetery" and located near what is now the armory.) This selection as a place for burial was a most unfortunate one, and has been attended with unhappy results. For thirty-five or six years this deplorable receptacle was used under protest. The soil was wet and drainage was almost impossible, consequently never attempted. During the last few years of its existence public sentiment was aroused to a high degree against it, and a general feeling of dissatisfaction prevailed. Indeed, so intense became the antagonism that many citizens refused to make further use of it, preferring to inhumate their dead at Maxville and other distant cemeteries within the county. The necessity of a better place of sepulture became apparent to all, but to obtain the desired object was a matter of great difficulty. There was an organized effort on the part of citizens, in the fall and winter of 1877, and an earnest endeavor made to induce the Board of Town Trustees to purchase a suitable place for a cemetery, and issue bonds for the payment of same. A petition was circulated, praying that the Board would take action in the matter and issue the necessary bonds. After due consideration by that body (town authorities), a committee was appointed to select ground for the cemetery.

  The committee never made a report, as a committee, and the Trustees, not caring to assume the responsibility, did not make the purchase. The failure of the project, occurring as it did when public sentiment was clamorous for a solution of the problem, completely disheartened the people, and their friends were dormant upon the subject for some time. The spirit of discontent was not eradicated until after the purchase of the Fountain Park Cemetery grounds by Ashael Stone, who seeing the extremity of the people, determined to relieve them; and offer, at the same time, a royal tribute to the memory of the dead.

  "The beautiful tract of ground comprising Fountain Park was purchased from the administrator of Christian Heaston, deceased, at a cost of $4,000, to which was immediately added $300 for a survey and plat".

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