Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-17
FOREST LAWN COPIED OFTEN
Omaha's Beautiful Burial Ground f.
Model for Many New
Cemeteries.

Out in the northern part OF the city, just
beyond the point where Forty second street
intersects the city limits Is TO be found
the largest cemetery In the state Of Me-
braska and one which has a rational repu-
tation-Forest Lawn Cemetery. The total
area OF the cemetery ls 500 acres, but as
yet, only comparatively small portion
OF this vast area has been laid out or used
for burial purposes.
In 1856 work was begun on Forest lawn
cemetery and In 1886 the fret body was In
TERED there. since that time its favored
location away from the danger of en-
enactment from the growing city and yet
easily accessible to those who have dear
ones buried there, has made Forest Lawn
one of the favorite burytng places of the
city. At the present time there are some
thing over 1900 graves IN the cemetery
During the twenty-four years since Its
opening, but twenty-five acres of ground
have been laid out for burial purposes and
the autorities estimate that there is suffl-
cient room still remaining In the cemetery
to provide a resting place for the dead OF
the city for hundreds of years to come
The cemetery is patterned. in may ways,
after the Spring Grove cemetery at Cincin-
nati, o., and was originally planned and
laid out by Joseph Earnsahw Of that city.
Recently 1t has been visited by cemetery
superintendents from many of the larger
cities of the country, who have been lavish
IN their praise of the beautiful natural
park and have called it an ideal cemetery.
Large cemetery associations Throughout
the country have found 1t advisable to
adopt for laying out their grounds, what
is known as the lawn, plan. This plan
| I a. nHA "A nd
and lots have been laid out In accordance
with the natural contour of the ground,
In addition to the private lots In the cene-
terry there are spaces reserved for the
burial of members of the Masonic frater-
nifty and OF the Grand Army OF the Repub-
Tic. A new space has recently been opened
for the burial OF members of the Masonic
order, the former ground having become
filled.
During the last decade extensive improve
ments have been made, among which are
an imposing entrance, an office building,
a greenhouse, a public receiving vault
with a capacity of ninety bodies, macadam-
lied driveways and a drainage system 1t
is planned by the cemetery authorities TO
build during next summer, beautitul
chapel and crematory to be located just
back of the receiving vault This I'M
provenent will give Omaha its best crema-
tory. It being necessary, at the present
time, to ship bodies to outside points FOR
cremation.
Many handsome and costly monuments
dot the spacious grounds of the cemetery
and there are several private mausoleums
of surprising beauty. The beauty OF the
place is further enhanced by the well trim
med shrubbery and trees and the velVety
lawn No charge is made to lot owners
for the care of the grass, shrubbery ana
trees upon their lots
The management of Forest Lawn Gene
terry is in the hands of a mutual associa-
ton known as the Forest Lawn Cemetery
association and no profit derives to any per
son from the income of the cenetery' The
association is, at present entirely free
from debt. o. c. Campbell is president OF
this association. T. A. Crelgh, Vice presi'
dent; II. s. Mann, secretary and treasurer
and ]. T. Craig, superintendent