My lovely wife and I are headed to this event on Sunday night (read story below).
(For those who don't know, Greenwood Cemetery is one of the most "haunted" places in Illinois:
Out for now.......
Matt
Greenwood Cemetery lanterns brighten future upgrades
DECATUR – The pathways for Greenwood Cemetery are about to be illuminated in hopes to brighten the cemetery's future.
As part of a plan to fund future renovations to Greenwood, cemetery director Lynn Dixon has been selling lights for residents to place at the site of their loved ones and elsewhere throughout the area.
The event will culminate in The Lights of Greenwood on the weekends of May 23 to 25 and May 30 to 31 when the cemetery will be open until midnight for residents to walk and view the illuminated grounds.
“People have been really excited about this,” Dixon said. “It's been a bit of a surprise, but I'm pleased to see it.”
Several hundred lanterns have been sold in the past three weeks, Dixon said.
Money from the lanterns will go toward the construction of a new garden and columbarium area in the south part of the cemetery.
While bids are still out on the projects, Dixon estimated they would be a combined $28,000. The garden itself, which would include an actual structure for visitors, would likely cost about $20,000 itself, which Dixon said would be paid for through a variety of fundraisers and private donations.
The columbarium would cost $8,000, and Dixon said he would likely ask the Decatur Township board for money to complete the project. Once constructed, Dixon said it could raise more than $21,000 in cremation fees.
The lights will remain in place “as long as they last,” with residents allowed to pick them up afterward if they want.
The fundraiser is part of official's five-year plan to renovate and remodel the nearly 200-year-old cemetery. Aside from the garden and columbarium, other items on the list include repair and upkeep on all broken, unstable and fallen headstones, as well as to fix and replace several hundred feet of fencing around the cemetery. The plan also calls for the reconstruction of the caretaker's home and office that greets visitors from the north entrance.
Lanterns will be available for $5 at Greenwood Cemetery through May 31.
DECATUR – The pathways for Greenwood Cemetery are about to be illuminated in hopes to brighten the cemetery's future.
As part of a plan to fund future renovations to Greenwood, cemetery director Lynn Dixon has been selling lights for residents to place at the site of their loved ones and elsewhere throughout the area.
The event will culminate in The Lights of Greenwood on the weekends of May 23 to 25 and May 30 to 31 when the cemetery will be open until midnight for residents to walk and view the illuminated grounds.
“People have been really excited about this,” Dixon said. “It's been a bit of a surprise, but I'm pleased to see it.”
Several hundred lanterns have been sold in the past three weeks, Dixon said.
Money from the lanterns will go toward the construction of a new garden and columbarium area in the south part of the cemetery.
While bids are still out on the projects, Dixon estimated they would be a combined $28,000. The garden itself, which would include an actual structure for visitors, would likely cost about $20,000 itself, which Dixon said would be paid for through a variety of fundraisers and private donations.
The columbarium would cost $8,000, and Dixon said he would likely ask the Decatur Township board for money to complete the project. Once constructed, Dixon said it could raise more than $21,000 in cremation fees.
The lights will remain in place “as long as they last,” with residents allowed to pick them up afterward if they want.
The fundraiser is part of official's five-year plan to renovate and remodel the nearly 200-year-old cemetery. Aside from the garden and columbarium, other items on the list include repair and upkeep on all broken, unstable and fallen headstones, as well as to fix and replace several hundred feet of fencing around the cemetery. The plan also calls for the reconstruction of the caretaker's home and office that greets visitors from the north entrance.
Lanterns will be available for $5 at Greenwood Cemetery through May 31.