Pilgrims Rest Cemetery

I have many ancestors buried here. My parents and my own grave are also here. The cemetery is definitely a 'fixer-upper', but is in a beautiful, historic spot. When the owner bought it in the 1980s, he inherited a mess; the churches who previously owned it had left no funds left for maintenance. A perpetual care fund was established and, during his ownership, available funds have been built up slowly and spent on major problems including re-interment of graves along the west edge, replanting of grass which had been killed by a cutworm infestation, removing dead branches from trees killed by time and ash borer, graffiti removal,. As for fallen grave markers, it is customary to leave these on the ground until the family asks (and pays) for re-erecting. In the spring, newly-planted blue vlolets cover the east side and are very pretty.
There are still some problems; the maintenance shed area is ugly, with piles of dirt and unpaved, rutted roads around it. Trash blowing in is always a problem although it is not out of control.
The owner was very kind and helpful with the renovation of my mother's family plot and the burial of my father's remains. It is is the final resting place of many a Milwaukeean, from 1880 on, and continues to have burials from families who obviously care for their graves.
If you'd like to help, take a walk through and pick up any trash you see, and enjoy this peaceful old place. If you have a plot, buy a tree and plant it like I did; in 100 years there will be beautiful old trees, thanks to you.

Historic

I live very close to this cemetery. I walk through it. I'm also a Paranormal Investigator. It's heartbreaking to see grave stones tiped over, some don't even have markers. This is very disapointing and sad. It's a disturbing sight to see, especially when holding an investigation. Needless to say we did get good proof of paranormal.

BUT- Overall, it's fine besides the graves. Oh, also stumbled upon a grave named "Henry" (I Don't remember where he was located.) He's got a large SINK HOLE which...one of my investigators fell into (that's how we found it..) So I would like that to be fixed, but it's really none of my business. Didn't get any evidence from that grave though.

Please fix this, thank you.

very poor graveyard.
unprotected, no fence.
holes in the ground thour out the areas. (WATCH YOUR STEP,5FT holes found,left uncovered since July 2013, (2014 jan)

headstones broken and alot of them are knocked over. alot are misplaced.
latey someone started a fire on a tree in they.

I drove thru this graveyard recently and found many of the markers laying on the ground, huge tree branches laying on the ground, dead trees throughout the cemetery.

I asked a question about someone taking care of the property and someone wrote back what do you want from a 250 year old cemetery at least the grass is cut. What if that was your family member there? How would you feel? All it takes is a little compassion.

Sad to see the neglect that is happening. Has become a place that dirt bike ride through, dog are allowed to run free, MANY MANY headstones covered in grass or they have been destroyed. The caretakers even leave their waste lay around.....sad