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| 1872 Map of Cemetery |
Oak
Ridge Cemetery is located in the Illinois capitol city of Springfield. Founded in 1855, the name was suggested
by Mayor John C.Cook because of the large standoff oaks on the original
property. Several of those trees remain standing today. The cemetery was dedicated on May 24,
1860.
Oak
Ridge was landscaped and designed in Classical Revival and Romanesque
styles. Primarily known for
President Abraham Lincoln’s tomb, Oak Ridge is so much more. The hilly land consists of bluffs and
valleys, with 12 miles of paved roads that meander throughout over 300
acres. Oak Ridge is on the
U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
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| Lincoln's Tomb |
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| Rubbing Lincoln's Nose |
Abraham
Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is the most famous
person buried here. Because of
this, Oak Ridge is the second most visited cemetery in the U.S. (Arlington National Cemetery is first.) Lincoln’s 117-foot Tomb was designed by
sculptor Larkin Mead. It was built
of brick covered with granite. Four bronze sculptures surround the tomb. Each sculpture represents one of the
four armed services in the Civil War; infantry, cavalry, navy and
artillery. At the entrance of the
tomb is a bronze head of Abraham Lincoln.
The nose is shiny due to tourists rubbing it for good luck.
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| Lincoln's Funeral held at Receiving Vault |
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| Tomb Rotunda |
Once
inside the tomb, a marble rotunda contains statues of Lincoln, along with
plaques that contain excerpts from his most famous speeches. There are two doorways in the rotunda –
one to enter the tomb by, and the other to exit by. In the tomb itself, a granite monument marks the
gravesite. Lincoln, his wife and
sons are in crypts located in the south wall. The receiving vault, where Lincoln’s body was held until the
monument was built is located at the bottom of the hill, behind the monument.
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Vachel Lindsey's Stone
(Courtesy Connie Nisinger) |
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| Nicholas Vachel Lindssey |
Others
buried in Oak Ridge include Illinois poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsey, considered
the originator of poetry as performance art. Lindsey was one of the best-known poets of the 1920’s and
1930’s in the U.S. Lindsey
apparently committed suicide by drinking a bottle of lye. He was well known for
his poems ‘The Congo’ and ‘Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.’
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Shelby M. Cullom's Grave
(Courtesy of Connie Nisinger) |
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| Governor Shelby M. Cullom |
Many
Illinois politicians, congressmen, senators and governors, including Governor
Shelby Moore Cullom, known as ‘Mr. Republican.’ Cullom held almost every elective office including two terms
in the Illinois House of Representatives three in the U.S. House of
Representatives and five terms in the U.S. Senate.
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| Governor John Riley Tanner |
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| Tanner's Mausoleum |
The
21st Governor of Illinois, John Riley Tanner, is also buried here,
along with numerous Civil War generals. Lincoln’s first law partner, John T. Stuart is also buried in Oak Ridge.
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| Roy Bertelli's Controversial Grave |
And,
not to be missed is the controversial grave of Roy Bertelli, known as Mr. Accordion.
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| G.A.R. Memorial |
There
are several war monuments in Oak Ridge.
Memorials exist for the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), World War
Two, the Korean War, and Illinois Vietnam Veterans.
If
you go to Springfield, don’t miss Oak Ridge Cemetery. A visit to Lincoln’s Tomb is a must, but don’t stop
there. Plan half a day and enjoy
the beautiful rolling hills, amazing sculpture and pleasantly designed
grounds. Stop by the cemetery
office, at the front gate, for a map.
You can also purchase a CD that will guide you on an audio tour of the
cemetery and many of its fascinating stones.
Oak
Ridge Cemetery is located at 1441 Monument Avenue in Springfield. You may contact them by phone at (217)
789-2340. Or visit the cemetery's web sit at http://www.oakridgecemetery.org.
~ Joy
Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight by Vachel Lindsay
In
Springfield, Illinois
IT is
portentious, and a thing of state
That
here at midnight, in our little town
A
mourning figure walks, and will not rest,
Near
the old court-house, pacing up and down.
Or by
his homestead, or by shadowed yards
He lingers
where his children used to play,
Or
through the market, on the well-worn stones
He
stalks until the dawn-stars burn away.
A
bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black,
A
famous high top-hat, and plain worn shawl
Make
him the quaint, great figure that men love,
The
prairie-lawyer, master of us all.
He
cannot sleep upon his hillside now.
He is
among us:--as in times before!
And we
who toss or lie awake for long
Breathe
deep, and start, to see him pass the door.
His
head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings.
Yea,
when the sick world cries, how can he sleep?
Too
many peasants fight, they know not why,
Too
many homesteads in black terror weep.
The
sins of all the war-lords burn his heart.
He sees
the dreadnaughts scouring every main.
He
carries on his shawl-wrapped shoulders now
The
bitterness, the folly and the pain.
He
cannot rest until a spirit-dawn
Shall
come:--the shining hope of Europe free:
The
league of sober folk, the Workers' Earth,
Bringing
long peace to Cornland, Alp and Sea.
It
breaks his heart that kings must murder still,
That
all his hours of travail here for men
Seem
yet in vain. And who will bring white peace
That he
may sleep upon his hill again?
Another episode of cemeteries and accordions had to do with a site specific
performance –walking tour. The
performance group Angels and Accordions began to present shows set to accordion music in 2004. The Dance Theatre Etcetera and the
Green-Wood Historic Fund for the Green-Wood Cemetery, located in Brooklyn, New
York, produced the programs. 
