Date: August
23, 2001
Cemetery: Baker Cemetery
Established: 1840
Street: just off Tottenham Circle
Type: Road-public
City: Washington,
Township: Washington
County: Tazewell
State: Illinois
Nation: USA
Zip: 61571
Nearby: intersection Tottenham Circle with Westgate Drive
Location: Urban-developed
Land: Flat
Watersource: Yes
Features: cluster of trees behind residential property
Sign: Yes
Land Type: Public
Access: Open
Enclosure: Fence-Broken
Gate: None
Status: Abandoned
Size: Small
Gravestones: 20-30
Oldest: 1840
Newest: 1898
Unmarked: Yes
Broken: Yes
Toppled: Yes
Buried: Yes
Removed: Unknown
Weather problems: No
Pollution problems: Unknown
Association: No
Records: Unsure
Inventory: Unsure
Records location:
Condition: Cemetery neglected
Vandalized: Yes
Police report: No
VA: Gravestones-Overturned
VA: Gravestones-Broken
Overgrowth: Graves-Disturbing
Vegetation: Ground-Cover
Drainage: Good
Problem: Apathy
Problem: Disintegrating Headstones
Restoration: No work started as of yet
Owner: Cemetery
Use:
Bordering: Residential
Change: Smaller
Reason: Housing
Visited: Rarely
Archeology: Unknown
Contacted: Washington City Clerk, Mrs. Donald Smelz, Washington
Chamber of Commerce
Other Information
I heard about this cemetery throgh a sculptor in
Peoria. Did some investigation & photographed stones & general
condition on 8/22/01. Contacted City Clerk (Carol Moss - 309-444-3196)
& found that it originally was owned by Vogelsang Farms & sold
to Don Smelz. Mrs Smelz confirmed that a letter was written to the City
of Washington giving the property to them. No action as of 8/23/01.
There are 3 Civil Was graves: James Holland, Co B, 47th Illinois Infantry,
Discharged Jan 23, 1863 as disabled in battle; James Seaman, Co. B, 47th
Illinois Infantry, Muster out Oct 11, 1864; and Thomas D. Seamon, Co. B,
47th Illinois Infantry transferred to Co. A as a consol. Many children
buried in this cemetery. Most of the stones are broken or partially
buried as dirt covers the stones. Local residents confirm they will mow
around the cemetery & occasionally through if they can. There is a
10 Foot easement between the houses to allow entry & no trespassing.
------ Go to end of Tottenham Circle & look behind houses for a tree
cluster. Cemetery is located there.
Support
Last private owner: Mr Don Smelz - 309-444-4742;
Washington City Clerk, Carol Moss - 309-444-3196; Washington Chamber of
Commerce; Judge Richard Eagleton (Peoria); Mrs. Nita Sunderland,
Sculptor - 309-694-1981
Submitted by:
name: Steve Slaughter
Email: sslau729@mtco.com
