Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

ln 1881, three and one-half acres were given by
Dexter Cunningham. in exchange for two lots. Later
several acres on the north were purchased of owners
John and George Watters.
In 1918, the remainder of the land between the
cemetery and the Wapsipinicon river, on the south and
west, containing 15 acres, was purchased from Emily
Cunningham. Part of it was to be platted to lots and the
rest of the land was to be used as a cemetery park. for
the conservation of its native bird and plant life.
Additional improvements were made to the cemetery
entrance when the new highway 161 (151) was
constructed in 1931. Additional land was purchased
from the Iowa Electric Co. in 1937.
Two iron gates were installed in I968, attached to
limestone walls, constructed of Stone City Stone. The
project was a joint venture of the Anamosa and Men's
Reformatory Jaycees, and members of both
organizations donated their time. inmates from the
reformatory laid the block foundation wall and exterior
finish.
Frank Sisco, Anamosa, was foreman of the project.
and he was assisted by Ervin Von Sprecken and Jim
Remington, both of Olin. Reformatory Jaycees working
longest on the job were Robert Richardson, Ralph
Richardson, Ralph Webster, Robert Malone and Gene
Dlllavou and Roger Bean.
Anamosa Jaycees assisted with the clean-up
operations under the supervision of Marion Norton,
project chairman. The 30 ft. walls, which used 15 tons
of limestone, cost $3.000.
The Anamosa chapter of the Business and
Professional Women instigated the marking of the
burial site of artist, Grant Wood. in 1980. [This may be
found in the BPW chapter).
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The Soldiers’ Monument located within the
cemetery, several hundred feet south of the entrance.
was financed through the efforts of the Anamosa
Women's Relief Corps. The planning of the 14-ft. tall
monument had been talked about for nearly 50 years
prior to the dedication May 30, 1911. It was the fourth
one erected in the county — the first three were at
Monticello, Wyoming and Olin.
First written of in 1864. during the Civil War. the
editor of the Anamosa Eureka reported, "lt is proposed
to build a monument in the cemetery to those of our
soldiers who fall in battle, or die in service, and a plot of
ground had been laid off for the monument. It is
intended to have their names inscribed and including
the names of those from the whole county."
Local persons, believing the monument to be
forthcoming, cleared and burned brush. and prepared
the site. It came to naught. and brush and trees
gradually reclaimed the chosen spot.
The editors of the town's papers periodically brought
up the subject many times over the next 46 years.
However. the site still remained unused for this
PUFPOSC.
On May 31, 1909. a soldiers‘ monument was
dedicated at Monticello. The same day monuments
were dedicated at Wyoming and Olin. When nothing
was done at Anamosa a year later. members of the
Women's Relief Corps took matters into their own
capable hands and spearheaded a financial campaign.
By 1910. there were 64 members who had been
instrumental in raising the $1.600 cost of the 11-ton
memorial. The Union soldier standing at rest, atop the
stone structure, was sculptured by A. Rozzis, an
Italian. The entire monument is Barre granite, except
for the die holding the inscription which is Wisconsin
Mahogany granite. The soldiers‘ monument was
ordered Nov. 11, 1910, and placed Apr. 22, 1911, by Al
Walton.
Thirty-four surviving veterans of the Civil War took
part in the dedication ceremonies, held May 30, 1911.
The idea, conceived in 1864, to list every veteran's
name on the memorial. did not materialize. The final
inscription reads: ‘Lest We Forget Our Boys‘. and the
dates, ' 1861-1865'.
The long-awaited memorial was dedicated to the 83
Civil War Veterans buried at Riverside: four veterans of
the War of 1812; 12 veterans buried at the Holy Cross
Catholic cemetery; one who was buried at
Andersonville prison; and the 31 veterans buried in the
rest of the county.
On the day of the dedication ceremonies the 34
veterans and 26 members of the W.R.C. marched to the
Opera House for the dedication services. After this, a
procession was formed and the march was made to
Riverside Cemetery where further programs were carried
out.
At this time, the gentle ladies could not vote. They
could, as was seen, cause monuments to be built:
conceivably to last for centuries.
Civil War Memorial Monument at Riverside
Cemetery, Anamosa, Iowa. (Photo submitted by
Berniece Shover)