Vermont Cemetery's History And Prairie Roots Showcased In Facebook Live Tour

Press release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

Vermont Cemetery, a small but unique forest preserve nestled on the northern end of Will County, will be in the spotlight during a Facebook Live tour on Thursday, October 29.

A 1-acre portion of the larger 37-acre Naperville-based Vermont Cemetery Preserve is normally gated off to the public because of the tall prairie remnants and pioneer-era tombstones protected within.

But during this virtual tour, program coordinator Jen Guest will lead a tour of the cemetery to reveal the site’s unique mix of historical and natural significance.

The tour will begin at noon on the District's Facebook page. Please note, this is an online-only program.

“The gravesites themselves help document the early European settlers of this area of Will County,” Guest said. “And the prairie surrounding the graves is unique because it has never been developed. Local settlers and farmers were never able to plow it because of the cemetery graves. As a result, it is considered an original prairie remnant.”

After the Forest Preserve District acquired the site, prescribed burns uncovered 25 headstones.

“Many of them are made from sandstone with inscriptions worn away by time,” Guest said. “But the handful of stones made from marble are still readable today. One of the largest headstones belongs to John Book. It suggests the family was wealthier than those with sandstone headstones.”

Guest said Book settled in the area around 1847 and established a working farm.

“It is believed that Vermont Cemetery got its name from being the final resting place of settlers and laborers who originated from Vermont,” she explained.

Forest Preserve research shows that some of the headstones contain Bible verses written in German and that the cemetery was also part of the Wheatland Congregation, made up largely of immigrants from Germany.

“While the records are incomplete, we do know the land was set aside in the 1840s for cemetery use,” Guest said.

In addition to the great historical significance of the cemetery, the prairie vegetation surrounding the headstones is extremely rare.

“Prior to European settlement, more than 60 percent of Illinois, approximately 22 million acres, were covered with prairie," Guest said. "Today, just over 2,000 acres remain, less than one-hundredth of one percent. The original prairie remnant at Vermont Cemetery is part of that small remainder.

"So, saving this unique ecosystem is important," Guest explained. "Additionally, the District was able to save some extra land around the prairie cemetery to act as a buffer. It is home to several threatened and endangered plant species.”

To learn more about Vermont Cemetery, visit the Forest Preserve’s Facebook page on October 29 to check out the livestream and to take a fascinating walk through time and nature.

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This press release was produced by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The views expressed are the author's own.