Waldheim Cemetery

CDT 8/18/1873   "Waldheim"

The formal dedication of Waldheim Cemetery took place August 17, 1873. The procession began at Washington and LaSalle and proceeded to the Northwestern depot. Waldheim, formerly Haas' Park, was purchased by a group of Germans to be a non-sectarian cemetery.

The procession included the Order of Chaldeans, Order of Red Men, Order of Druids, Order of the Sons of Hermann, and Order of Liberty. Mr. Haas gave the deeds for the property to the President, Mr. Reich.

Mr. Fricke's remarks discussed the fact that "the intolerance of  many ministers had compelled them to find a place where they could bury their dead without the assistance of priests; where lodges and orders could bury their deceased brethren according to ther own customs and manners, and where the speech of a brother was considered of as much value to the dead as the sermon of a minister."

For years, the place has been a favorite spot for picnics, "The new cemetery comprises 149 1/2 acres of land, which is divided into 500 sections, and there will be nearly 50 lots to each section, making in all about 25,000 lots. Two thousand lots have already been laid out, and 86 persons are buried there. The main roads will be 20 feet wide . . . It is hardly necessary to add that there will be no church nor chapel on the premises. Lots are sold at $25 each, and to stockholders at $15."




CDT  12/11/1877     Cemeteries: Waldheim

A meeting of the stockholders was held. The intent is to retake possession of the cemetery, because it had been assigned to a trust deed to a copartnership of nine.

Improvements have been made to the property. "During the past summer a new and large vault has been constructed"



CDT 12/19/1887    They Bury Their Dead

The five dead anarchists were buried  in one grave.

"The grave was wide and deep, and partially covered over. Five coffins were thrust into the hole . . . The heavy capstone, fitting exactly into the cavity, was swung into place. The hole was closed, and the crevices cemented."

"The cemetery is west of the railroad track . . .is a group of white gravestones planted in the flat cheerless prairie. The road to the cemetery is sloppy with the tramp of many feet. . . . The entrance is an arched structure of brick, with a superintendent's lodge on the side. Many trees have been planted . . . but they are small and leafless"

"A cluster of people gather at the open grave about 200 yards from the entrance. Another cluster gathers at the little stone building called 'the vaults' where the five coffins have lain these five weeks, and where preparations are being made for their removal.

"Now some cemetery laborers with cotton jackets carry two or three big pine boxes out to an open space on the prairie, about 100 feet from the grave. The grave is far away from the cluster of gravestones. It is alongside the main walk; the cemeterykeeper, who is a talkative man, will tell you that the Anarchists have bought eight burial lots there, comprising an area of 1,000 square feet. Presently the five coffins are borne from the vaults out to the prairie when the big pine boxes are laid. . . . The five coffins are laid in the big pine boxes and the crowd closes around in a circle and crushes and cranes to see what is going on in the centre. The undertakers expertly raise and slide back the upper portion of the lid of each coffin, disclosing glass covers and the faces of the dead men inside. The sight is ghastly '

"Spies coffin is the nearest . . .[much description of the body and Nina, Mrs. Spies] The next coffin is Fischer's.. . . .The next is Parsons . . .Engel . . . Last of all is Lingg.

"The coffins are borne to the open grave. The crowd struggles and scrambles on the slippery mounds of clay.The coffins are placed one by one in the big pine boxes and lowered into the stone-built cavity where they are laid side by side.  [Details of mourning]"

"It takes nearly an hour to get the coffins down and the cap-stone in place."


NYT 12/19/87   Buried in One Grave

"Mr Buchanan then ordered the lids of the caskets screwed on. The grave which had been prepared to receive the remains of the five Anarchists had been dug 100 feet north of where the ceremonies took place. It was 12 feet deep and leading to it was an inclined plane dug out of the earth. At the bottom of the receptacle is  block of granite on which rests a bed of cement. Granite blocks are the walls and the top are two blocks of granite at least a foot thick. The stone-incased grave was made to fit exactly five boxes in which the five caskets were quickly placed. The remains were carried down the incline and the sexton and his assistants as quickly placed them in position. Spies lies to the west, his head to the north, and beside him lie in order Fischer, Parsons, Engel, and Lingg."

Waldheim:

Aug 1873       Waldheim is formally dedicated. 5,000 people at ceremony. Previously Haas’ Park. Germans purchased as a non-sectarian cemetery. Big parade included Order of Chaldeans, Order of Red Men, Order of Druids, Order of the Sons of Hermann, Order of Liberty. Went out on train. Mr. Haas speech indicated that he had intended it as a settlement for the living, but was happy to turn it over as a settlement for the dead.

One speaker indicated that good can come out of bad. Spoke of goodness that dead can be buried without priests, lodges and orders can bury according to their own customs and manners, and the speech of a brother is considered of as much value as a minister.

For years was a favorite place for picnics, and viewed as a lovely spot. Cook (Little Old Oak Park) writes that Haas' Park was a lovely stretch of woodland along the river. There were no forest preserves in those early days and the Haas family whose large home stood near to the entrance to their "Park", generously allowed the public to drive through their woods, to picnic there as long as they chose, and even to use their flat-bottomed boat for a ride on the river.


New cemetery comprises almost 150 acres of land, which is divided into 500 sections, and there will be nearly 50 lots to each section – making in all about 25,000 lots. 2,000 lots have been laid out and 86 persons are buried there. More detail and “it is hardly necessary to add that there will be no church nor chapel on the premises.”

Dec 1877     30 stockholders of Waldheim cemetery Association met. They met to propose that the original members of the organization retake possession of the cemetery. They had assigned it by a trust deed to a group of nine members over a repayment of debt issue. It is decided that the cemetery will be re-transferred to the Assoc. Improvements will be made to the grounds. A vault had been constructed last year. There are 30 acres of unimproved ground.

Nov 1887     Funeral

Story about Nov, 17, 1887 (typo says 1886) in Sept 1890         Three men made an attempt to grave-rob Spies body.  A medical student, a past-convicted grave-robber, and an unidentified man with a medical connection got a horse and buggy and went to Waldheim, where they had previously obtained keys to the vault. They gathered under a tree near the vault, but saw a man pacing in front – as a sentinel. They left and abandoned the project.

Nov 23, 1887     Central Labor Union visits Waldheim to consider buying a large tract of land. Agreement came very close – but no? Sub-committee of DC and AA met with reps of Board of Waldheim. Wanted to buy (with cash) their finest lots, but Waldheim was not ready to accept. Trib claimed that Board cited large crowds visiting and trampling other graves as the problem, but that was not the real reason.

Central Labor portion of DC in favor of buying a large tract of land for burying members of their organization. Could not find anything workable for a reasonable sum – and then Waldheim showed them Section H, a timber- and brush-covered area in the extreme west end of the cemetery. But it is picturesque. Completely unimproved and slopes down to the Des Plaines river. Contains 650 lots and can be had for $25,000.  

If this doesn’t work out, Trib speculates that they will be buried in Lot 802 of Section B. That is a finely situated corner lot with a great view of the cemetery. Removed from the older and more improved parts of the cemetery, but it is a desirable spot. Frank Staubner wants it but it is to be voted on by CLU, based on committee report. Looks likely.

Also – there is an illustration another proposed “isolated” area?

While at the cemetery, the group visits the vault with the bodies:

“The five black cloth caskets lay in a row upon the second tier. The further end of the room was a mass of flowers whose beauty has yet been scarcely marred. The casket containing the mutilated body of Louis Lingg was pulled forward far enough to permit the front of the lid to be raised. There were few who had the nerve to look upon the face of the suicide. Matt Schmidinger was one of those who had. He mounted a truck, and standing over the inanimate Anarchist, produced a pair of scissors and clipped several locks of hair which he carefully wrapped up and placed securely in his pocket. Small samples were taken by several of the party and will doubtless in future years be treasured as relics of a celebrated event.”

Nov 25, 1887     Final resting place will be decided at CLU meeting tomorrow. Waldheim directors and a joint committee of DC and CLU decided. At a previous meeting it was decided not to buy an entire section. Instead 2 plats of land upon the opposite corners of adjacent sections were selected – and will go to CLU for approval. Larger and more favorable consists of approx. 6,000 square feet of land now covered with trees and brush at the extreme east end of the cemetery. Can be bought for $2,000 and is choice if majority. Other is smaller and in the improved portion of W. and is valued at $1100. If the $2,000 piece is chosen, remainder of section will probably be purchased by members of CLU and other sympathizers.

Dec 1887     Day-before interment story.  Interment will happen after five weeks in the temporary “great stone and iron vault”. Large ceremony is planned with speeches. There is some conflict with the Turners maybe not wanting to be considered anarchists, and also indication of inadequate funds.

Dec 19, 1887      burial date. 2 long, detailed stories. Some discrepancies.

NYT Nov 1895     Officers and directors of Waldheim forbade annual ceremonies, and banned any large concourse of people on the grounds. They claim that many holders of lots have complained that that the annual gatherings do not reflect the beliefs of many people, and that the gatherings injure property holdings in the cemetery, and make the cemetery undesirable for others to purchase plots there.  Parade cancelled. There was some discussion by PA to remove the monument, and move the bodies to a purchased special cemetery where like-minded people can be buried next to the martyrs.

CT Nov 1895     It is possible (story disputed and vague attribution) that the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad offered the anarchists 10 acres for a cemetery after Waldheim officials prohibited celebration gatherings. Evidently, the railroad sees opportunity for profit by selling nearby lots to sympathizers after the ten acres are full.

Perhaps – there was an original agreement that only three demonstrations would happen: funeral, corner-stone laying, and dedication of monument.

Dec. 1895     article indicates that PA is not going to disinter and cremate the remains due to Waldheim restricting anniversary demonstrations. PA officers are Frederick Benthin, William Urbin, and Thomas Grief. There is interest in doing this, but it was felt to be too large an undertaking for the group. Also, they hope the Waldheim officials will change their minds.

 Oak Park Vindicator 10-7-1898       Discusses that many people from Chicago and distant cities are always inquiring about the location of the anarchists’ graves. It says that there is an interesting story about the selection of the cemetery:  “The friends of the executed men had decided upon Forest Home cemetery. Mr. Haase, who controls this cemetery, heard of their intention, and hurrying to forest Home, and locked the great entrance gate, put the keys in his pocket and hid the remainder of that day. The would-be patrons of the cemetery found it closed. The friends of the anarchists, unable to enter, next went to Waldheim. They were again refused admission, but a brother of an anarchist owned a lot therein, and he claimed the right to bury whom he pleased. Interment was finally permitted.”  Also documents one disturbance only.