Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 272, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1912 — MEMORIAL BRIDGE IN WESTON CEMETERY [ARTICLE]

MEMORIAL BRIDGE IN WESTON CEMETERY

Lodges Will Aid in Construction of Cement Arch Memorial Across Maxwell Ditch.

The extensive improvements at Weston cemetery during the past few months, coupled with the purchase of the Beck and Shaffer properties has required careful financing by the board of trustees and so John Holden, the efficient sexton, has, hit upon a plan to make an improvement that will be an aid financially, accomplish the construction of a bridge before the trustees would otherwise be able to expend the money and at the same time endear the cemetery to the various secret orders of the city and build them Into closer unity of feeling. The Maxwell ditch separated the old cemetery from the new purchases. A bridge must be built over It. The trustees did not want to go into debt for the bridge at this time. That fact would have bluffed less stout-hearted men than Sexton Holden, but it just set his ingenuity to work and he was not long in developing a plan that has every prospect of working out in fine shape. •He figured that the secret orders of the city might build the bridge, as a memorial, placing such emblems and inscriptions on the bridge as they see fit. He talked with the lodge officers and found them willing to propose the matter to their orders. The officers and soriie of the members visited the cemetery and Mr. Holden explained his plan. The ditch is 12 feet_ wide, the driveway should be 14 feet wide, with cement bannisters. It will require about S3OO to build It. Already the Knights of Pythias have voted to give liberally to the proposition and the Masons, Odd Fellows and Red Men and the auxiliary lodges expect to do the same thing. Fortunately the lodges here never established separate cemeteries and the one general burial ground can thus be given better care. The cement arch bridge, beaTftig the inscriptions of the doners will be a great thing for Weston cemetery and Mr. Holden’s thought was a happy one.