The condition of Union or Citizens’ Cemetery in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, led to these proposals from the Chief Burgess. From the Lykens Register, June 7, 1900:
NEW QUESTION CONFRONTS COUNCIL
At its next meeting Chief Burgess Bueck will ask that the Borough Cemetery be looked after, and Additional Land Purchased
Shall the un-systemized and dilapidated condition of the Borough Cemetery exist or shall it be otherwise? This important question will confront the Town Council at its next regular monthly meeting. The present condition of the burial grounds warrants consideration by our borough officials, for the neglected appearance certainly is a disgrace to Lykens, especially since it is the property of the borough. The condition of affairs now show graves unmarked, sunken and irregular. Many of the tomb-stones look as though they have been struck by a cyclone and the walks are as irregular as paths in a primitive forest.
Now it is the intention of Chief Burgess Bueck to have this state of affairs changed and if Council supports him in his efforts, this “last resting place of the dead” will have a changed appearance. The Burgess would like to have the main walk about ten feet wide, and cross entrances six feet. It is also his idea to have the grounds marked off in oblong squares, the tones put in line and the sunken places filled up. As it is now many, in order to bury their families and near relatives, are digging graves directly on the paths, while others in sinking graves very oftenly hit coffins, due to the graves not being marked. To make this necessary change all those having relatives interred are asked to mark the graves by some method in order that the plots may be laid out properly when council desires to make this change.
Another proposition Burgess Bueck intends to submit to Council which future years will become a necessity. Realizing that nearly all the burial space is being taken up it will become Council’s duty to purchase additional land, and the Burgess will ask the town to buy some of the land to the south of the cemetery, belonging to the Gratz estate. If this proposition be favorably considered and acted upon it will not become a question of concern in the future.
But whatever action be taken in these two matters – favorable or unfavorable – nevertheless it seems that a good many of our citizens are heartily endorsing Burgess Bueck’s movements, who wish to see our Borough Cemetery present a respectable appearance. What year the land was deeded to the town, we have as yet no information, but ever since, those who pay $2 get a permit from the Burgess and bury their dead wherever they please. What Council will do remains to be seen.
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Article from Newspapers.com.
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