Oak Park Cemetery: Difference between revisions
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The second cemetery for [[New Prairie]] | The second cemetery for [[New Prairie]] founded in 1930. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Named for the Oak trees that | Named for the Oak trees that originally filled the area, the cemetery was built on the southern base of [[Cambiare Rock]], stretching three blocks to the east and about a mile up the slope of the mountain. The cemetery’s sprawling grounds flow with the natural formation of the land, and many of the original trees still stand, spotting the land with patches of dense forest. | ||
The first ceremony for the new grounds was for [[Roberto Martini|Roberto]] and [[Rachel Martini]]. While neither of the two bodies was ever located, their disappearance from the town for so long had caused them to be declared legally dead. A gravestone marks their death at the entrance way into the grounds. | |||
==Notorious Residents== | ==Notorious Residents== | ||
Most of New Prairie’s most notorious | Most of New Prairie’s most notorious residents have been laid to rest within the park itself. In the main chapel, just a short distance inside the entranceway to the park, there’s a map that will guide visitors to the final resting place of such people. However, a few have been purposefully left off the map in fear of visitors with unruly thoughts causing havoc with the gravesites ([[Vinnie Sporteino]] is one of them). | ||
==Catacombs and Gravestone== | ==Catacombs and Gravestone== | ||
When the graveyard was originally constructed, catacombs were started beneath for those who wished not to be buried in the ground. | When the graveyard was originally constructed, catacombs were started beneath for those who wished not to be buried in the ground. Fairly popular with the more well-to-do citizens of New Prairie, many were buried there until a cave-in in 1954 forced the caretakers to shut down the catacombs. During the cave-in, the original entrance into the catacombs was destroyed and purposefully left sealed, angering many families of those who were buried within. When [[Winston Cooke]] was hired as the caretaker to the cemetery in 1973, he stumbled across an opening to the catacombs while cleaning out a mausoleum. Breaking through, he lowered himself down and into the vast catacombs, which he found gave off an odd sense of comfort and rejuvenating appeal. | ||
In 1986, Cooke brought the body of [[Nathan Myers]] into the catacombs where he magically | In 1986, Cooke brought the body of [[Nathan Myers]] into the catacombs, where he was magically awakened. Years later, the two turned the catacombs into their base of operation for when Myers became the crime fighter [[Gravestone]]. The mausoleum that Cooke made his way into was subtly rebuilt with the addition of a statue of Jesus, hands out on a pedestal. By touching his right hand, the statue slid aside and revealed a set of stone stairs that led down into the catacombs themselves. | ||
==Mysterious Events== | ==Mysterious Events== | ||
The cemetery has exhibited strange events and happenings over the years, the | The cemetery has exhibited strange events and happenings over the years, the results of which are still unknown. Ghosts, monsters, and the unexplained are often drawn to the cemetery, and in one instance, some of its oldest occupants returned to life in the form of zombies. They started terrorizing the city, only to be stopped by crime-fighter Gravestone. | ||
[[Category:Locations]] | [[Category:Locations]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:22, 13 August 2025
 A view from the park to the downtown | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | October 18, 1930 |
| Location |
22 Quinto Ave New Prairie, WI |
| Style | Gothic |
| Owned by | St. Murphy's Church |
| Number of graves | 400 |
| Number of cremations | 15 |
The second cemetery for New Prairie founded in 1930.
History
Named for the Oak trees that originally filled the area, the cemetery was built on the southern base of Cambiare Rock, stretching three blocks to the east and about a mile up the slope of the mountain. The cemetery’s sprawling grounds flow with the natural formation of the land, and many of the original trees still stand, spotting the land with patches of dense forest.
The first ceremony for the new grounds was for Roberto and Rachel Martini. While neither of the two bodies was ever located, their disappearance from the town for so long had caused them to be declared legally dead. A gravestone marks their death at the entrance way into the grounds.
Notorious Residents
Most of New Prairie’s most notorious residents have been laid to rest within the park itself. In the main chapel, just a short distance inside the entranceway to the park, there’s a map that will guide visitors to the final resting place of such people. However, a few have been purposefully left off the map in fear of visitors with unruly thoughts causing havoc with the gravesites (Vinnie Sporteino is one of them).
Catacombs and Gravestone
When the graveyard was originally constructed, catacombs were started beneath for those who wished not to be buried in the ground. Fairly popular with the more well-to-do citizens of New Prairie, many were buried there until a cave-in in 1954 forced the caretakers to shut down the catacombs. During the cave-in, the original entrance into the catacombs was destroyed and purposefully left sealed, angering many families of those who were buried within. When Winston Cooke was hired as the caretaker to the cemetery in 1973, he stumbled across an opening to the catacombs while cleaning out a mausoleum. Breaking through, he lowered himself down and into the vast catacombs, which he found gave off an odd sense of comfort and rejuvenating appeal.
In 1986, Cooke brought the body of Nathan Myers into the catacombs, where he was magically awakened. Years later, the two turned the catacombs into their base of operation for when Myers became the crime fighter Gravestone. The mausoleum that Cooke made his way into was subtly rebuilt with the addition of a statue of Jesus, hands out on a pedestal. By touching his right hand, the statue slid aside and revealed a set of stone stairs that led down into the catacombs themselves.
Mysterious Events
The cemetery has exhibited strange events and happenings over the years, the results of which are still unknown. Ghosts, monsters, and the unexplained are often drawn to the cemetery, and in one instance, some of its oldest occupants returned to life in the form of zombies. They started terrorizing the city, only to be stopped by crime-fighter Gravestone.