nps form 10-900 omb no. 1024-0018 united states department of the interior … · 2020-06-03 ·...

NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018

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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions.

1. Name of Property Historic name: Spring Vale Cemetery Other names/site number: ______________________________________

Name of related multiple property listing: N/A (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing ____________________________________________________________________________

2. Location Street & number: 2580 Schuyler Ave. City or town: Lafayette State: IN County: Tippecanoe Not For Publication: Vicinity:

____________________________________________________________________________ 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this x nomination ___ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property x meets ___ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: ___national ___statewide x local

Applicable National Register Criteria: x A ___B x C ___D

Signature of certifying official/Title: Date Indiana DNR-Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government

In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria.

Signature of commenting official: Date

Title : State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Spring Vale Cemetery Tippecanoe County, IN Name of Property County and State

Sections 1-6 page 2

______________________________________________________________________________

4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) _____________________

______________________________________________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action

____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Classification

Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply.)

Private:

Public – Local

Public – State

Public – Federal

Category of Property (Check only one box.)

Building(s)

District

Site

Structure

Object

x

x


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Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count)

Contributing Noncontributing 2 1 buildings

1 1 sites 8 1 structures 2 0 objects 13 3 Total

Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 0 ____________________________________________________________________________

6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions.)

FUNERARY: cemetery ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.)

FUNERARY: cemetery ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________


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_____________________________________________________________________________

7. Description

Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions.) LATE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY REVIVALS: Classical Revival OTHER: Park Rustic MODERN MOVEMENT: Art Deco LATE VICTORIAN: Gothic ___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Materials: (enter categories from instructions.) foundation: STONE: Granite walls: STONE: Granite STONE: Marble roof: ASPHALT other: CONCRETE ________________________

Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity.) ______________________________________________________________________________ Summary Paragraph Spring Vale Cemetery is a long, half-octagon-shaped development comprised of just over 80 acres between a stream ravine and the old Delphi Road (former State Road 25) on the north side of Lafayette. The cemetery, containing over 18,000 graves, was established in 1868-1869 using a plan inspired by the Rural Cemetery Movement with winding drives and natural features to highlight graves and family burial plots. Several monumental stones including obelisks and carved crosses are scattered throughout the cemetery which also features four mausolea and a pavilion-like burial marker. Stones and monuments of Gothic and Classical styles are blended with later Art Deco design in the Victorian-era cemetery. A fieldstone cemetery administration office and receiving vault compliment the stone entryway and bridge railings and represent early 20th century development of the cemetery.


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_____________________________________________________________________________ Narrative Description Spring Vale Cemetery (1868) is considered a contributing site. The cemetery is generally laid out north-to-south with its main drive extending from near its southern point, going northeast toward its northern point. The lots and drives are not laid out to true cardinal points. Descriptions of north, south, east, and west are more accurately described as northeast (north), southwest (south), southeast (east), and northwest (west). Spring Vale Cemetery is an 80 acre development of more than 18,000 graves constructed northeast of the original plat of Lafayette on the old Delphi Road. The ground was purchased and plans were drawn during 1868 with its dedication occurring in 1869. The cemetery design employs features of the Rural Cemetery Movement with winding drives through a tree-studded area of undulating hills. Burial plots and grave markers dot the hills and substantial memorials are focal points in the development. Victorian era gates and other features were originally constructed in the cemetery, but by the turn of the 20th century, these were replaced by more rustic features composed of natural stone. The main gateway at the south end of the cemetery (photo 0001), the bridge and its railings (photo 0003), as well as the receiving vault (photo 0002) and administration building (photo 0012) were all constructed of fieldstone from about 1915-1931. These have a Park Rustic quality that became popular in the first decades of the 20th century. Most grave markers are simple, granite or marble stones carved with the names of the interred. There are a few natural boulders carved with names or large stones with bronze plaque inlays with names. The cemetery main drive enters off of Schuyler Avenue (old Delphi Road/old State Road 25) at the south point of the development through the entry gates (photo 0001). The cemetery is generally half-octagon-shaped with the entry at the west end. The drive turns and goes north, past more recent mid-to-late 20th century burials. It continues north past the receiving vault and modern columbarium, across the bridge and modern pet memorial area (photo 0002). The area spanned by the bridge is a grassy ravine that opens wider to the east and northeast, nearly to Schuyler Avenue, and is absent of grave sites and trees (photo 0003). A drive that parallels the avenue splits off near the receiving vault and also continues north. The main drive continues north into an old-growth forested area where burial sites are again located and continue to the north end of the development. Along this part of the main drive are several family plot staircases (c. 1920, photo 0005) of granite used to access the family gravesites that are slightly raised due to the lower grade of the main drive. These are carved with the family name in the top step. These include (south-to-north) the Haywood, Schlesselman, and Peirce families. Near the middle part of the cemetery, a loop drive extends to the west from the main drive, then north, before intersecting the main drive. A circular drive, or roundabout, exists at the south end of this loop drive; burial sites are located in the center of the roundabout. A tall, carved Celtic cross (c. 1900, photo 0011) marks the O’Ferrall Family plot overlooking the bluff off the west side of the loop drive. Opposite the cross on the east side of the loop drive is a tall obelisk (c.


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1900) marking the Potter-Peck Family plot. A modern maintenance building is near the north end of the loop drive (seen in the background of the right side of photo 0006). Several interesting monuments are near the intersection of the west loop with the main drive. These include the Blackstock Mausoleum (c. 1910, photo 0009) in the northwest corner, an intricately carved Celtic cross in the southwest corner (part of the Levering Family plot, c. 1910, photo 0008), and two large granite fonts are in the southeast and southwest corners of the intersection. Another notable family stone is the Bohrer Monument, with a tall, raised granite block with pink granite stylized columns at each corner, and topped with a large carving of a kneeling, weeping woman holding a laurel wreath (c. 1910, right side of photo 0009). Just south of the main intersection on the main drive are two other notable monuments. The Hawkins Family monument is on the west side of the drive and features a tall granite column topped with the carving of a standing woman, arm outstretched to the east, holding a book and laurel wreath in the other arm (c. 1890, photo 0006). On the opposite side of the drive is a pavilion-like family monument to the Gouger Family (c. 1910, photo 0007), that features a colonnade enclosing benches and a font, that support an entablature-like roof. From the intersection, a drive extends to the east and forms two loop drives (going both north and south). Where the loop drive splits is the Art Deco-designed McNulta & Ames Mausoleum (c. 1940, photo 0025) on the south loop and the Harter Mausoleum (1906, photo 0024) on the north loop. Both generally face east. A secondary drive east of and parallel to the main drive, splits the north loop. A smaller pavilion-like family monument is located on the west side of the secondary drive. The Taylor-Carpenter Family Monument (c. 1905, photo 0021) features a raised granite bench enclosed with a Doric colonnade that supports an entablature-like roof. Continuing on the main drive, north from the intersection, the administration building is located in the southwest corner of a second major intersection (photo 0012). The intersecting drive extends to the west and falls away with grade on the north side of the administration building. The east end of the intersecting drive connects to the north loop and secondary drive of the roads extending off of the first intersection (to the south of this intersection on the main drive). Opposite the administration building, in the northwest corner of the intersection, is the large Reynolds Family Monument (c. 1900, seen on the right side of photo 0012). The monument has a raised, round base with a colonnade, a circular Corinthian temple surrounding a sarcophagus-like carving. The colonnade supports a tall, domed roof of granite. From this second major intersection, the main drive continues north, to a central point in the northern third of the cemetery (photo 0013). From this center point, several drives radiate out to the west, north, and east, though generally, the main route continues north and east forming a large north-end loop. As the main drive descends to this center point, a tall obelisk (c. 1900, seen on the left side of photo 0013) for the Fowler Family plot is prominently situated on a slight mound off the west side of the drive. A large mound is off-centered to the northeast and also features several prominent monuments (photo 0014). A brick and stone drainage gutter is at the south base of this mound on the north side of the drive encircling it. The prominent monuments include the grave of John Levering, who designed and established Spring Vale Cemetery, located on the southwest corner of the mound (left side of photo 0014). The Levering Family plot features a set of granite steps that lead to the large Levering stone. The stone features a tall


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carving of a woman in mourning, clinging to a cross (c. 1890). East of the Levering plot is the Rochester Family Monument (c. 1885) that features a carving of a woman in mourning leaning on an urn partially covered with a pall. Near the east end of the central mound is the Heath Family Monument (c. 1885, left side of photo 0015). It features highly-stylized Gothic carvings that give the stone a chapel-like appearance of trefoil arches supported by short, stylized columns. East of the drive encircling the mound is another section that features a few prominent stones that face west. These include the Getts and Ray family plots (left side of photo 0016). The Getts Monument (c. 1920) is a large vault-like stone with raised carvings and rusticated trim. The Ray Monument (c. 1900) has a tall middle stone flanked by semi-circular, pavilion-like features. Fluted, Ionic columns form a colonnades that support an entablature-like roof to each side of the center stone. Just south of these stones, on the south side of the drive that radiates east from the center point of this northern third of the cemetery, is the Wellington Mausoleum (1905, photo 0017). The concrete mausoleum half a segmental barrel-vaulted roof and is built into the hill and faces north. Several prominent monuments are located in section 23 (photo 0018) which is encircled by the intersecting drive extending east from the second major intersection of the main drive that curves back to the north and then west to the drive that radiates east from the central point of the northern third of the cemetery. The middle of section 23 is generally a ridge that falls off to the north. Along the ridge are located several prominent stones including the Fowler Monument, a large carved cross (c. 1930, photo 0019) near the center of the section. The Ensminger Monument (c. 1878, right side of photo 0018) is a tall granite obelisk that faces southeast near the curve in the drive. The Taylor Monument (c. 1910, left side of photo 0019) is on a raised platform of three granite steps and features a sarcophagus like carving draped with a pall. Pet Memorial Garden, c. 2000. Non-contributing (site) The small garden-like site is located northwest of the bridge off the west side of the main drive through the cemetery. It is landscaped with boulders and shrubbery with an entry flanked by fieldstone piers with pointed tops. This area is seen on the right side of the drive in photo 0005 near the bridge. Buildings: Administration Building, Park Rustic, 1931. Contributing Photo 0012 The one-story fieldstone building features side-gabled parapet walls with end chimneys. The building has pairs of metal casement windows divided into eight panes with a transom divided into four panes. The windows are embedded into cement sills and steel plate lintels. The asphalt roof has a simple wood cornice. Steps lead down to a grade cut/drive on the north side of the building and a sidewalk leads east to the main drive.


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The front (east) façade features a gabled stone porch with recessed entry doors in the north and south walls of the porch. The wood doors have full windows and screen doors. The front wall features a full round arched opening with concrete step and floor. Pairs of casement windows flank the gabled porch. A date stone in the upper corner of the south end is carved with ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 1931. The south façade is dominated by the central chimney. A pair of casements with transom is east of the chimney. The north façade features a tall base of stone revealed from an adjacent driveway grade. The chimney extends from the base to the parapet in the center of the wall. A small rectangular opening, covered with metal, is in the base east of the chimney. Casement windows divided into eight panes with transoms divided into two panes flank the chimney on the main level of the building. The back (west) façade features a casement window divided into eight panes with a transom divided into two panes south of center on the façade. Casement windows divided into eight panes are north of center and in the north end of the façade. The interior of the building is divided into two primary rooms, each accessed from an entry door off the recessed porch. The rooms are connected through a doorway in the east/west dividing wall. A large walk-in safe is located in the southeast corner of the south room. A bathroom is located in the southwest corner of the north room, entered through the south room. A small storage room is in the northwest corner of the north room. The building has oak floors and simple painted baseboards and door trim. Wood sills and skirt boards are below windows. The interior doors are painted two-panel wood with original brass and porcelain hardware. The walls and ceilings are plaster. The steel safe has a massive door and features interior shelves and cabinets with the cemetery association’s original records. Receiving Vault, Park Rustic, c. 1918. Contributing Left side of photo 0002 The square fieldstone building is built into a slight hill off the main drive through the cemetery. The building has corner pilasters, also of fieldstone, and a pyramidal roof with wood fascia and covered with asphalt. The front façade features a central projecting vestibule of fieldstone with a segmental arched top. The vestibule has a narrow entry with an iron gate. A concrete terrace is in front of the building with a sidewalk that leads to the drive. The roof was once much steeper and the vestibule was covered with a gabled roof with gable trim. These were modified in the mid-20th century. The receiving vault was highlighted in a c. 1920 promotional piece for the cemetery and stated it was for “temporary deposit of the dead” serving the bereaved “while selecting a burial lot” Burial services were typically performed at the portal of the vault. Groundskeepers Building, c. 1980. Non-contributing Right side, background of photo 0006 The side-gabled, one-story building has metal walls and roof with garage doors in its east façade.


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Structures: Brick Gutter, c. 1918. Contributing A gutter structure composed of brick pavers with limestone curbs extends along the north side of the east/west drive between sections 23 and 28 (central mound). It curves with the drive, then to the northeast toward the main drive through the cemetery. Bridge, c. 1918. Contributing Photo 0003 The grassy ravine that separates the front (south) end of the cemetery from the rest of the cemetery is bridged by an arched culvert of stone and earth, loosely described as a bridge. The structure features stone facing to the east and railings of stone piers with pointed tops between which are metal pipe railings. Entry Gateway, c. 1918. Contributing Photo 0001 A fieldstone entry gateway is located at the south end of the cemetery (at the point of the semi-octagonal-shaped parcel). The gateway flanks the main drive and is composed of large square piers with slightly pointed top. The south pier has a bronze plaque cast with SPRING VALE CEMETERY INCORPORATED 1868. The north pier has a bronze plaque cast with SPRING VALE CEMETERY and in smaller print A SPOT WHERE NATURE STOPPED AND SMILES AS SHE WROUGHT AND EACH RETURNING SEASON COMES AND SMILES AGAIN; BEAUTIFUL, WHETHER COVERED BY THE FALLEN LEAVES OF AUTUMN, THE WHITE MANTLE OF WINTER, OR THE GREEN VERDURE OF SPRING. An opening wide enough for pedestrians is between the large piers and smaller piers from which a low stone wall extends toward the road then curves north and south away from the drive. The wall is terminated on the end with a narrower stone pier with slightly pointed top. Wellington Mausoleum, Classical Revival, 1905. Contributing Photos 0015 (right side) and 0017 The mausoleum is of formed concrete with a concrete foundation pad and base with tapered walls. The front façade features a central entry with concrete step. The entry has a pair of iron gates in front of a pair of solid metal doors. A metal lintel over the entry has WELLINGTON in raised letters. Memorial stones flank the entry. Both are carved with WELLINGTON at the top. The west stone has only one name while the east stone has four names of those interred. The mausoleum has recessed panels in its east and west (side) walls and in its back (south) wall. The barrel-arched metal roof features an arched pediment front and back and full entablature around the entire building. The front façade’s pediment features a date panel of raised numbers “1905” centered in the wall. Raised scrollwork with small rosettes that flank the date and a tassel above the date fill the typanum of the pediment. Metal finials and scrollwork trim the top of the pediment. The back façade features a metal panel with a raised “W” flanked by tassels


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centered in its pediment. Raised scrollwork with small rosettes flank the raised panel and fill the typanum of the pediment. A metal athenion and scrollwork trim the top of the pediment. Blackstock Mausoleum, Classical Revival, c. 1910. Contributing Photo 0009 The gable-fronted mausoleum has walls composed of rusticated granite blocks with dressed corners. A single, tall course of granite composes the base and three courses compose the walls. Smooth granite composes the entablature, gable wall and roof which is stepped with a ridge cap. The front façade features a center opening flanked by Doric columns in antis that rest on the base and support the entablature and gable wall above. A pair of two-panel bronze doors are recessed into a wall of smooth granite. The name BLACKSTOCK is in raised lettering over the entry in the frieze. The mausoleum has a stone floor. Harter Mausoleum, Classical Revival, 1906. Contributing Photo 0024 The mausoleum has a granite floor and four courses of rusticated granite that compose the walls. The bottom course is slightly taller to give the appearance of a base. The gabled roof is of granite with a ridge cap. The front (east) façade features smooth granite with a full pediment. A pair of Doric columns in antis flank a pair of bronze doors centered in a recessed, smooth granite wall. The doors have a panel in the bottom and opening in the top with decorative ironwork. A lintel/frieze carved with 1906 is above the doors. The columns support the pediment which features HARTER in raised letters on the frieze. The back façade features a small rectangular window with rusticated sill and lintel. The window is filled with metal screen. McNulta & Ames Mausoleum, Art Deco, c. 1940. Contributing Photo 0025 The mausoleum features a granite floor that forms a slight base and smooth granite walls. The structure has a low-pitched front-gabled roof of granite. The front (east) façade features extensions of the granite floor to hold urns on the north and south ends. A granite step is on the front. A wide pair of bronze doors are flanked by a narrow pilaster of granite that form the outside corners of the mausoleum. The north door has an opening filled with metal bars. The south door is missing the bars in its opening. The granite pilasters are carved with three vertical lines to mimic fluting. The gable is carved with McNULTA & AMES. The mausoleum has four crypts, fronted with granite, immediately inside the doors unlike most mausolea which feature a central hall flanked by crypts. Gougar Pavilion, Classical Revival, c. 1910. Contributing Photo 0007 The temple-like structure is identified separately because of its unique design with benches that flank a font under the cover of roof supported by rows of Doric columns. The granite structure has a raised floor with steps on its west (front) façade. A low wall of granite flanks a central opening. The wall surrounds benches that face into the structure and font in the center of the floor. Six Doric granite columns surround each of the benches and support an entablature and roof over the pavilion. The frieze has GOUGAR in raised letters over the entry. It is flanked by swags of bell flowers. The entablature’s cornice is topped by finials of anthemion ornaments on


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the corners and in the center by scrolls and an anthemion on a short pedestal. The primary family members include John (1836-1925) and Helen Gougar (1843-1907). Columbarium, c. 2000. Non-contributing Right side of photo 0002 A granite columbarium divided into 24 chambers is located on the east side of the main drive, east of the receiving vault. Objects: Cast Concrete Benches (2), c. 1900. Contributing Middle of photo 0012 Two benches cast to resemble stick work are located in the cemetery. One is located near the entry to the administration building and the other is located in section 28. The benches have trunk-like side walls and flat plank-like seats and backs. Because these are not burial markers, they are counted as objects.


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_________________________________________________________________ 8. Statement of Significance

Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.)

A. Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the

broad patterns of our history.

B. Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.

C. Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction.

D. Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

Criteria Considerations (Mark “x” in all the boxes that apply.)

A. Owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes

B. Removed from its original location

C. A birthplace or grave

D. A cemetery

E. A reconstructed building, object, or structure

F. A commemorative property

G. Less than 50 years old or achieving significance within the past 50 years

X

X

x


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Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions.) ARCHITECTURE SOCIAL HISTORY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ART ___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Period of Significance 1868-1940 ___________________ ___________________

Significant Dates 1931 ___________________ ___________________

Significant Person (last name, first name) (Complete only if Criterion B is marked above.) ___________________ ___________________

Cultural Affiliation ___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Architect/Builder (last name, first name) Levering, John ___________________ ___________________


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Period of Significance (justification) The period of significance begins in 1868 when Spring Vale Cemetery was developed. While it was not officially dedicated and lots sold until 1869, the date 1868 is prominently featured as the cemetery’s establishment date on its entry gate (left side of photo 0001). The period ends in 1940, the date the last significant historic structure, the McNulta & Ames Mausoleum, was constructed (photo 0025). While burials continued after this date, and the site is an active burial ground today, the design of the sections and plots, and historic resources identified herein, were all constructed by 1940. The most important building in Spring Vale, both architecturally and functionally, is the administration building constructed in 1931 (photo 0012). Criteria Considerations (explanation, if necessary) Spring Vale Cemetery meets criteria consideration D as a cemetery, but rises to high level of significance because of a few factors. The cemetery was the first burial ground in Lafayette employing a design style, in this case of the Rural Cemetery Movement, for its drives and burial sites. It is also a relatively early example of this planning, constructed between 1868 and 1869. The cemetery also features important architectural and artistic features including the fieldstone administration building, mausolea, and family monuments which are locally significant examples of funerary art. Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph (Provide a summary paragraph that includes level of significance, applicable criteria, justification for the period of significance, and any applicable criteria considerations.) Spring Vale Cemetery qualifies to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places using criterion A under the area of social history. Due to a growing population and a desire to have a more pleasing area in which to inter its citizens, prominent residents of Lafayette established the cemetery as a response for this need. Several important figures in the city’s history were interred at Spring Vale in the following decades. The cemetery also qualifies using criterion C under areas of art and architecture, as well as landscape architecture. The cemetery features buildings and structures of notable architectural significance including its glacial boulder stone administration building and the classically-inspired architecture of the mausolea. Intricate carvings of monuments, such as the Celtic crosses and figures atop family stones, are artistically significant. Finally, the cemetery is important as an example of the Rural Cemetery Movement, which marries landscape design with a Victorian-era embrace of the Picturesque.


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______________________________________________________________________________ Narrative Statement of Significance (Provide at least one paragraph for each area of significance.) SOCIAL HISTORY The City of Lafayette, established in 1825, had experienced substantial growth from the time of its founding into the middle part of the 19th century. That growing population resulted in the city’s original cemetery reaching near capacity by the 1860s. Greenbush Cemetery had been established during the 1820s and was located near the historic center of Lafayette. Understanding the need for additional burial space, several community leaders sought ground outside of the old city boundaries on which to establish a cemetery, this included John Purdue, the first cemetery superintendent and namesake of Purdue University. Land was selected northeast of the city, near Wildcat Creek south of its confluence with the Wabash River. The land, located on the old Delphi Road, later called the Linwood and Wild Cat Gravel Road, was owned by Peter Langlois II. Langlois was born to a French trapper/trader and Miami woman and operated a trading post near the creek during the early-to-mid 1800s. Langlois, who inherited the property (part of Indian reserve lands), sold it to the Spring Vale Cemetery Association trustees in 1868. Peter Langlois II died in 1871 and is buried in the cemetery along with other family members. The burial register states of Langlois: “The Indian lived 2 ½ miles NE from the city. Owned SVC” (Spring Vale Cemetery). It should be noted that John Purdue was buried on the campus of Purdue University in 1876. The cemetery association’s trustees at the time of the land purchase, which equaled 63 acres, were John Purdue, M. L. Peirce, Relief Jackson, William C. Wilson, David McBride, and John Levering. While each played a significant role in the establishment of the cemetery, it is John Levering who is credited for the development plan that relied on fairly modern concepts in cemetery design known as part of the Rural Cemetery Movement. Levering created winding drives and vistas that capitalized on the hilly, wooded topography of the Langlois property. Levering, who recorded his own family plot on October 18, 1869, received the lots in exchange for the services he provided to the cemetery. His family plot is one of great prominence in the central mound at the north end of the cemetery (photo 0014). His stone is marked with the inscription “Assistant adjutant general U.S.V. – Established Spring Vale Cemetery.” John Levering died in 1901 and his wife, Elizabeth, died in 1887. John Levering’s father-in-law, Thomas Forman, had died in 1857 and was buried at Greenbush Cemetery, but was disinterred and then buried at Spring Vale near the Leverings, in March 1870. Five other Levering family members were removed from Greenbush in March 1870 and buried in lot 9, section 28 of Spring Vale. For the next 50 years, several generations and members of the Levering, Peirce, and Wallace families figured prominently in the administration of the cemetery. While the Levering plot may have been the first recorded “sale” of a cemetery plot, the first burial in the cemetery occurred on August 11, 1869, just over two months prior to the cemetery’s formal dedication. The first burial was that of Mahala Felton, who died in Lafayette on August 10, 1869 of consumption. She is buried in lot 174 of section 35 and the undertaker providing


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services was Caleb Scudder. Section 35 is located in the far northeast corner of the cemetery. The original burial register for Spring Vale lists the name of the interred, along with the place of birth, death, date of date and age, what they died from, and date of burial. It also includes the lot and section number, undertaker, and a line for remarks, which often carry relatives’ names. In the case of Mahala Felton, it is written that she was the wife of Frederick Felton and was the 1st burial in Spring Vale. Three months later, a one year old daughter of Francis Felton was buried in the same lot as Mahala. At least seven other individuals were buried at Spring Vale between August 11 and the date of the cemetery’s dedication on October 17, 1869. The dedication was celebrated with much fanfare. Placards announcing the dedication were placed in the city as well as the newspaper. These read as follows (an original is framed at the cemetery administration building):

DEDICATION Of

SPRING VALE CEMETERY! The ceremony of consecrating Spring Vale Cemetery will take place at 2:00 p.m. on

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1869, In “Consecration Dell,” on the Cemetery Grounds

Oration by Rev. Thomas Bowman, D.D. of Asbury University. The Clergy of the City will participate.

VOCAL MUSIC! Under the direction of Prof. Harrison.

The popularity of the new cemetery led to a number of dis-interments at the city’s old Greenbush Cemetery, and reburials at Spring Vale during the 1870s. Approximately 126 individuals at Greenbush Cemetery were removed and interred at Spring Vale during that time, including some whole families, like those of the Heath Family, which included five members. Re-interments came from other nearby cemeteries as well including St. Boniface, St. Mary’s, and the community cemetery in Oxford. Family members also brought their deceased loved ones from towns as far away as Princeton and Peru, Indiana and Troy, Ohio, during the 19th century. Silas Bailey, who was a former Baptist minister, had died and was buried in Paris, France in 1874. He was brought to Spring Vale and buried in 1876. By about 1920, the Spring Vale Cemetery Association sought to advance its public presence through a promotional piece that provided photographs of the picturesque quality of the cemetery. Many of the cemetery’s newly-built, rustic architecture of stone piers and receiving vault are pictured in the booklet and replaced the old iron Victorian-era structures. Views along the main drive with large monuments to each side, and the wooded nature of the cemetery were the primary focus of the association’s marketing. The booklet includes the history of the cemetery as well as rules and regulations guiding care and use of the cemetery. It was estimated by that time there had been about 5,000 burials (today, there are over 18,000 burials). The booklet stated that additional improvements to buildings and drives would occur in the future. By 1931, a fieldstone administration building was added to the cemetery (photo 0012). A stone garage and toolshed were also once located near the administration building.


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Spring Vale Cemetery became the choice burial ground for many leading citizens of Lafayette and the surrounding area from the time it opened into the middle part of the 19th century. Some notable burials at Spring Vale include Moses Fowler (1815-1889), business magnate and founder of Fowler, Indiana. His business partnerships in Lafayette included those with John Purdue, W. F. Reynolds, and Robert Stockwell, the latter two also buried at Spring Vale. Fowler’s massive family monument, a white obelisk, is in the northwest corner of the cemetery (seen on the left side, in the background, of photo 0013). Adams Earl (1818-1898), also a partner with Moses Fowler, contributed jointly with Fowler to lure the county seat to Fowler, Indiana by contributing $40,000 to the construction of a new Benton County Courthouse in 1874. Earl founded Earl Park in Benton County and was heavily engaged in large-scale farming and livestock operations. His large family monument is in the central part of the cemetery at the southeast corner of the second primary intersection, east of the administration building. Three United States congressmen are buried at Spring Vale Cemetery. Thomas Bayless Ward (1835-1892) served as Lafayette’s mayor, a state court judge, as well as congressman from 1883-1887. The rather simple gray granite stone is in the central part of the cemetery. William Wood (1861-1933) served in the Indiana General Assembly before being elected to Congress in 1915. He died in office in 1933. He is buried in the Wood-Geiger family plot marked with a wide, grey granite tablet stone. Wood has an individual stone carved with “Served his state and country with marked distinction and honor as a member of Congress from Indiana 1912-1933”. George Richard Durgan (1872-1942) served as Lafayette’s mayor from 1904-1913 and 1917-1925, and then was elected congressman in 1933 and served until 1935. His wide black granite pedestal monument is in the east-central part of the cemetery. Helen Gougar (1843-1907) was important in the early women’s suffrage movement. She was also an attorney and journalist and is buried with her husband, John, in the central part of the cemetery (photo 0007). Another woman of note is Isabel Blackstock (1842-1916) who founded the Harrison Industrial School for Girls in Tokyo, Japan, in 1889. A memorial stone dedicated to Blackstock by the pupils of the school is located outside of the Blackstock Mausoleum in the northwest corner of the first main intersection of the cemetery (photo 0009). Other notable burials at Spring Vale Cemetery include Dr. Arett Campbell Arnett (1882-1955), an important physician and founder of Lafayette’s Arnett Clinic. He is buried in the south-central part of the cemetery. Richard Patten DeHart (1832-1918) was a Civil War Union Army Brevet Brigadier General and is buried in the southeastern part of the cemetery. Thomas McCall (1916-1965) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroic actions he took during World War II in 1944. He later served in the armed forces in Korea. His red granite tablet stone in carved with the description of actions taken to win the medal and is located in the south end of the central part of the cemetery. Raymond “Deac or Ray” Ewry (1874-1937) was a United States Olympics Gold Medalist from Purdue University in jumping competitions during the 1900, 1904, and 1908 Olympics. He won a total of eight gold medals in competitions that are, however, no longer held. He is buried in the north-central part of the cemetery.


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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE The 63 acres purchased from Peter Langlois II in 1868 by the Spring Vale Cemetery Trustees was well-removed from the City of Lafayette, but along one of the city’s most important transportation arteries. The rural area was already scenic and natural in character due to the geographic undulations caused by the watershed of the Wabash River and nearby Wildcat Creek. This hilly terrain was also forested and provided a canvas on which to implement a modern aesthetic for cemetery design known as the Rural Cemetery Movement. The movement relied on the Victorian Romantic concept of naturalistic but planned views and vistas, complimented with Gothic and classical-inspired architecture. John Levering, a trustee of the newly-established cemetery board, designed the cemetery’s roads and lots as indicated on one of the earliest maps of the cemetery. The “Sectional Map of Spring Vale Cemetery” states “Laid out and drafted by John Levering, Supt.”. The map features etchings of the ornate Victorian metal entry gate and bridge near “Consecration Dell”. Levering divided the 63 acre wedge-shaped parcel into 35 sections numbered from the narrow point at the south end to the wider north end. The east and west sides are long and were bordered by the road on the east and a ravine with water feature on the west. While the south, east, and north boundaries have essentially remained the same, during the middle part of the 20th century, approximately 20 acres were added to the southwest, incorporating the lowland/waterway area that helped to create the vistas noted on Levering’s map. This added area remains natural and unplatted. Levering included the name of the waterway on his map, “Sylvan Lake”, which appears to stretch along the west ravine but modern boundaries of the lake are more defined northwest (and not part) of the cemetery. Levering’s use of geographical descriptions as well as named drives further establishes the ideas behind the Rural Cemetery Movement. The main cemetery drive was named Central Avenue (photo 0005). Elm Avenue paralleled Central Avenue and wrapped back under it at the bridge to form Shady Dell Drive which led west to an area labeled Consecration Dell. This is the grassy ravine area between the south and central parts of the cemetery (photo 0003). The first main intersecting drive was labeled Forest Dale Avenue and the second (near the administration building today) is labeled Green Dell Avenue. Lake Side Avenue connected Shady Dell and Green Dell along the top of the ravine on the west side of the cemetery. Spring Avenue intersects Central Avenue in the north part of the cemetery (photo 0015) and Warriors Path Avenue is at the far north end and was a nod to the Native Americans who at one time held the land as a reservation. The geographic features were also named by Levering, often labeled in each of the sections. The following sections were labeled, from south to north: Section 1: Spring Bank (along west ravine) Section 3: Hill Side (along west ravine) Section 5: Chapel Reserve; this was a circular area near today’s receiving vault and likely as the name indicates was reserved for a chapel that was never constructed (right side of photo 0002). Section 6: Prospect Hill (along west ravine) Section 7: Consecration Dell (along west ravine, may have been set aside for ceremonies)


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Sections 8/10: Lake Terraces (along west ravine) Section 14: Wood Lawn (photo 0008) Section 15: Summit Ridge (facing east) Section 17: Oak Ridge (facing east, photo 0021) Section 19: Fair View (along west ravine) Section 21: Lake Lawn (facing Sylvan Lake) Section 22: Lake View (facing Sylvan Lake) Section 23: Central Ridge (photo 0020) Section 27: Oak Lawn Section 28: Green Mound (on which Levering is buried, photo 0014) Section 29: Evergreen Lawn Section 30: Maple Knoll (Moses Fowler Monument, photo 0013) Section 31: Meadow Lawn (largely unplatted, northwest corner) Section 32: Indian Mounds (north end, largely unplatted) Section 33: Sycamore Knoll (north end) Section 34: Green Lawn Section 35: Beech Wood While a few narrow paths dividing the sections are included in the original design, many of these are covered by lawn today. Two notable changes in the main drive include the underpass of Shady Dell drive to Consecration Dell (section 7) under the bridge. East of the bridge, the area was labeled “Crescent Terraces” and the chapel was to be located just southeast of the bridge, which would have been an impressive vista coming and going from Consecration Dell. This part of the design has essentially been abandoned. The only other significant change was the addition of a roundabout feature between sections 8 and 13, which now captures Lake Side Avenue and brings it down to Central Avenue, rather than continuing to Shady Dell drive, which has been discontinued. These changes likely occurred when the metal bridge was removed and stone features added (c. 1918) and are included in a 1950 map of the cemetery. A photograph of the new bridge was featured in a c. 1920 promotional piece under which a poem is written with the line “Step by step upon life’s highway and o’er the bridges which lie between, man makes his journey to that City to mortal eyes unseen.” The winding drives certainly accomplish other significant vistas, particularly along Central Avenue east and west of the bridge (photos 0003, 0005) and descending toward its intersection with Spring Avenue at the north end (photo 0013) due to the high Green Mound area to the east and tall obelisk marking the Fowler family plot to the west. Many of these vistas were captured in photographs for an early promotional piece for the cemetery (c. 1920). By this time, several of the large granite monuments were in place including the Hawkins and Gougar Monuments in the center part of the cemetery (photos 0006-0007), flanking Central Avenue (the historic photo shows the cemetery dotted with large metal urns). Other photographs in the booklet show the bucolic feel of the cemetery in the northern part by the mounds. One photo shows the Green Mound area with Levering’s stone prominently featured, and another shows a mostly undeveloped section with a large weeping willow and columnar evergreen. Many of the photographs, in black and white, have a foggy quality in the background.


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The c. 1920 promotional piece underscores the value of the rural, picturesque nature of the cemetery by stating “why delay when sometime the imperative need for one comes….They are well located and far enough from the city to guarantee their not being encroached upon by the crowding civilization.” The cemetery association emphasized the burial ground could be sustained in its maintenance through a perpetual care fund, financed through either one-time or annual payments. This was at a time when many older city and rural cemeteries lacked care or funding. The description of Spring Vale Cemetery located in the booklet, and also on the bronze plaques on the entry gate (right side of photo 0001), reflect an appeal to the natural:

A spot where nature smiled and stopped as she wrought And each returning season comes and smiles again;

Beautiful, whether covered by the fallen leaves of autumn, The white mantle of winter, or the green verdure of spring.

The cemetery association’s intent was to construct a waiting station for visitors since a stop was already included for the Ft. Wayne & N.I. Traction Line at “Springvale Station”. This does not appear to have been constructed, however, the administration building followed about ten years later (photo 0012). Private fences and enclosures of any kind were not permitted in Spring Vale Cemetery. Vaults and tombs were discouraged due to deterioration, but were permitted. This may be why so few mausolea are located at Spring Vale. Wood headboards were strictly prohibited. Planting of trees and shrubbery on family lots was permitted, but no natural trees could be removed without permission. The Rural Cemetery Movement In 1831, the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts was developed by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society as a reaction against overcrowded graveyards. It was a non-denominational, non-profit business that maintained its own records, and built their cemetery on a beautiful stretch of land outside the city limits. Mount Auburn, the first of its kind, was the beginning of the American Rural Cemetery Movement. The movement was gained popularity in the Victorian era as attitudes about death shifted from mournful reality to commemoration of life of the deceased. The designs, also called Garden Cemeteries, provided for a picturesque landscape that reflected romantic ideas of life and death, which is also evident in the imagery and iconography of the markers and monuments. Planners of these cemeteries advocated park-like settings away from the crowded center of the city rather than regimented, compact rows of burials in traditional graveyards. Use of the word “cemetery” took precedence over “graveyard” or “burial ground” after the Mount Auburn development. The romantic garden settings were characterized by manicured plantings, asymmetric lots often circular, radiating out from a center monument, and winding drives. The more regimented grid of equal-sized burial lots were mapped, but not visible on the landscape (as Levering’s drawing demonstrates). Trees, like weeping willow and columnar evergreens, and flowering plants added a natural aspect to the landscape. Urns and vertical monuments, often with statuary, provided romantic vistas from the winding drives. Fences that enclosed family plots contradicted the open garden plan and were more common in churchyard burial grounds, which is likely why they were prohibited at Spring Vale.


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Of particular interest are design connections between Mount Auburn Cemetery and Spring Vale Cemetery. One important connection is a dedication location in both cemeteries. On September 24, 1831, the public was invited to attend a consecration ceremony for Mount Auburn Cemetery. Over 2000 people were in attendance, which aided in calming the fears of those who chose to inter their loved ones so far from Boston’s city center. The heavily wooded valley was christened “Consecration Dell” in which a temporary amphitheater was built on the hillside with a platform for speakers and music from the Boston Band. Clearly, John Levering borrowed from Mount Auburn in the creation of Spring Vale’s Consecration Dell, and very possibly considered the “crescent terraces” drawn on his plan as a natural amphitheater. Spring Vale’s dedication on October 17, 1869 included a ceremony at Consecration Dell with speakers and band, just like Mount Auburn’s some 38 years prior. Both Mount Auburn and Spring Vale have main drives named Central Avenue, and an off-shoot named Elm Avenue. The land upon which Mount Auburn’s cemetery was created was described as “swelling hills, rounded knolls, deep ravines, secluded dells, opening glades, steep acclivities, primeval forests, tiny lakes, and even quite a lofty mountain, are all features of the landscape.”1 Levering was both well-read and well-traveled and certainly saw potential in the Spring Vale site. During his early years in Lafayette, prior to the Civil War, he was the Tippecanoe County Surveyor and Lafayette’s Civil Engineer. He also was appointed to the Indiana State Board of Agriculture. Levering likely familiarized himself with drawings of Mount Auburn, as drawn by General Dearborn and Alexander Wadsworth, a civil engineer and surveyor himself. Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, was established shortly after Mount Auburn, and it included a small pond dubbed “Sylvan Lake” similar to Spring Vale’s, along with other named sections similar to those at Spring Vale. Other Rural Cemeteries during the middle part of the 19th century included names common among them with terms like ridge, lawn, knoll, with adjectives such as oak, elm, lake, etc. The cemeteries were also places to introduce new plants and trees, often becoming arboretums. Given Levering’s interest in agriculture and horticulture, species introductions, like the old gingko trees near Levering’s own monument (photo 0014), were common in these cemeteries. Weeping willow and columnar evergreen, like arborvitae, not only symbolically related to death and life, but also were themselves architectural in form and aided in the Picturesque image. Bridges and water features, chapels, and impressive ornamental gates commonly defined these cemeteries, all of which Levering incorporated, or at least planned for in the creation of Chapel Reserve, the section near the bridge that never received the construction of a chapel.

1 Cothran, pg. 41


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ARCHITECTURE Spring Vale Cemetery reflects changing tastes in architecture through its many gravestones and mausolea structures. Several early monuments reflect Greek and Gothic motifs while the popularity of Classical Revival architecture in the early 1900s gives the cemetery its most significant monuments. All of these are symbiotic with Victorian ideas of mourning, even in their simplest form. The Gothic Revival style is evident in a simple stone with Gothic-arched top (Winthrop Ellsworth Stone, 1862-1921, President of Purdue University, far left side of photo 0011) located along the bluff south of the maintenance building. And an extraordinary example of the Gothic style is located on the central mound in the north end of the cemetery, the Heath Family Monument, which features recessed panels topped by trefoil arches that are supported by stylized columns (left side of photo 0015). Nearby is the Ray Family Monument which features a pinnacle-like cross atop a stone monument that has the appearance of a Gothic steeple (right of the Heath Monument in photo 0015). Urns, a nod to Grecian architecture, are found in great regularity atop family stones and are a symbol of mourning in Victorian era cemeteries. The many obelisks that mark family plots throughout the cemetery point to classical Roman architecture. Maybe most impressive is the massive Fowler Family Monument in the northwest corner of the cemetery, which sits at a slight highpoint surrounded by small family or individual’s stones (left side of photo 0013). At least one stone features Romanesque carvings near the Harter Mausoleum. The Wallace Family Monument (c. 1915, photo 0023) is a four-sided, granite tapered pier on a bulging, pillow-like base. The crown-like top and base are intricately carved with an acanthus leaf pattern. Classical Revival architecture experienced growing popularity by the turn of the 20th century, and was based off of the study of Greek and Roman precedents being uncovered in the ancient world. The City Beautiful Movement was rising in communities throughout the country, resulting in planned parks and civic spaces with classical elements applied to bridges, buildings, and sculpture. This also had a profound effect on funerary architecture. Most notably, mausolea structures gained popularity during the end of the 19th century, into the 20th century. Spring Vale Cemetery features three mausolea built with classical-inspired architecture between about 1905-1910. The Harter and Blackstock Mausoleums feature large rusticated granite blocks that compose the walls and nicely carved Doric columns that flank their entry (photos 0009, 0024). Both have pedimented tops and recessed entry. The Wellington Mausoleum is of concrete and features a barrel-vaulted metal roof with a cornice and decorative cresting atop its arched pediment (photo 0017). Several other notable family monuments use classical architecture to portray temple-like design. These include the Gougar and Taylor-Carpenter Monuments in the middle part of the cemetery that feature a raised base with a benches enclosed by colonnades that support an entablature roof (photos 0007 and 0021, respectively). The Ray Family Monument near the Wellington Mausoleum features apse-like semicircular extensions to each side of a center stone with colonnades that support an entablature (seen in the left side of photo 0016). Maybe the most impressive monument in the classical style is the W. F. Reynolds Family Monument (c. 1900, right side of photo 0012) north of the administration building. It features a


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tall, raised base that supports a symbolic (non-functional) sarcophagus sculpture which is surrounded by Corinthian columns that support a tall, domed roof, forming a circular temple. While early development of Spring Vale Cemetery occurred during the heart of Victorian-era architectural styles, its buildings and many of its landscape structures reflect the popularity of the early 20th century movement toward rustic qualities of natural materials. Cast iron Victorian gates and other features present in the 19th century cemetery were replaced between about 1918 and 1931 with fieldstone-constructed buildings and gates. The large entry gateway composed of curving fieldstone walls terminated with large stone piers, flanking the main drive, provide the initial impression of entering the heavily wooded cemetery as entering a park (photo 0001). The theme of fieldstone features continues, past the receiving vault building constructed of stone and over the bridge with metal railings between piers matching those of the entry gate (photo 0003). The main drive extends to the north and passes the administration building (1931, photo 0012), set off to the west of the drive. The building, veneered entirely with fieldstone, features a steeply pitched, side-gabled roof with gabled parapets and impressive end chimneys. These examples of architecture loosely reflect the Park Rustic Movement which gained significant popularity in state and national parks, particularly during the Great Depression. It was during that time federal relief programs employed laborers to construct public works, often with natural or readily available materials. Natural stone was frequently used. The overriding concept, beginning in the early part of the 20th century, was a romantic architectural connection back to the natural environment. The architectural movement was an obvious choice to compliment parks with structures that would not be obtrusive to their surroundings. Spring Vale Cemetery, already a beautiful natural terrain of small hills, valleys and trees, was itself park-like in quality. The introduction of the stone features only enhances that quality. Tree trunk stone carvings for family monuments and matching benches of stick work also point to the rustic style. Examples of these are located near the administration building and are seen in photo 0012. The architectural style that is found with some regularity late in the period of significance is related to modern architectural trends of the 1920s-1950s. Art Deco style is evident in the McNulta & Ames Mausoleum on the east side of the cemetery (photo 0025). Built in 1940, the simple granite structure has straight, smooth lines and absent of carving except for stylized fluting on the implied corner pilasters of the front façade. It also features a low-pitched gable with implied pediment into which the family names are carved. Other family monuments like the Dye and Duncan stones (c. 1930) near the center of the cemetery have rounded tops that bespeak the style; the Dye Monument has the appearance an Art Deco tower in granite slab form. The large pink granite Curtis Family Monument is a marriage of Modern architecture and 20th Century Gothic with its tapered slab and stylized Gothic-arched top carved with a trefoil design (c. 1935, seen in the right side of photo 0025, in the background).


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ART Similar to changing architectural styles, the artistic expression on grave markers also changed during the decades leading from the Victorian era into the middle part of the 20th century. A walk through Spring Vale Cemetery is as much an experience of sculpture as it is to remember those interred at the site. Carvings into stones or figural carvings from stone are both found in abundance in Spring Vale. Many of the carvings carry significant symbolism related to death and burial. Examples of many of the carvings found throughout Spring Vale are listed below. One of the most common carvings in funerary art is that of urns, sometimes partially covered with a cloth or pall. This traces its roots to the ancient world where Grecian urns were used to store the ashes of individuals. Urns are found carved in stone atop pedestals and columns, or scattered as objects in the cemetery. Urns flank the McNulta & Ames Mausoleum (photo 0025). The Biggs Family Monument (c. 1890) is topped with an urn with pall in the north central part of the cemetery commemorating Benjamin and Elizabeth Biggs. The stone also features columns, etchings and stylized “B” in the top of the pedestal cap. The Dr. Stephen and Sydney Jones Monument (c. 1885) features a tall urn atop its broad vault-like gray-pink granite monument with corner, stylized columns. One of the most impressive urn carvings is located atop the gray granite Kile Monument (c. 1895, right side of photo 0010). The urn, approximately five feet tall, is fluted and features handles and sits atop a lower pyramidal base flanked by scrolls. Another common and popular choice of funerary carving during the second half of the 19th century is the use of obelisks as gravestones. These also point to ancient and Renaissance Rome, where their symbolic power was imported from Egypt for commemoration of events and the cycle of life. The obelisk points heavenward, a teaching of Christian religion that in afterlife the human soul goes to heaven. Therefore, the use of the obelisk was popular for use by those following Christian teachings. It also appealed to the Picturesque, since obelisks refer to ancient Egypt and its “exotic” culture of the afterlife. Spring Vale is replete with obelisks, mostly in smaller scale of just a few feet and often set atop a stone pedestal. However, there are a few that are impressive examples such as the massive white granite Fowler Family Monument (c. 1900, approximately 30’ tall, photos 0013, 0020) in the northwest part of the cemetery. Similar to the Fowler Monument is the Peck & Potter obelisk in the west-central part of the cemetery (c. 1900, near the maintenance building). To further represent mourning, many of the obelisks were carved with palls atop the top. Examples of these are the Coleman and Ensminger Monuments (both c. 1880, north-central part of the cemetery, photo 0018). The Coleman Monument is a beautifully-carved, tall gray granite obelisk with an exceptionally realistic pall draped over the top of the stone. The obelisk sits on a tall pedestal carved with short columns that form a portico-like feature on each side. The Ensminger Monument features a tall gray and charcoal gray obelisk atop a tall pedestal. Carving on the stone is blended between the two colors, which allows the pall at the top to be flush with the stone, but is etched to make it charcoal color versus gray. Not unlike the obelisk, the use of spheres to denote a celestial realm was also employed in late 19th and early 20th century funerary markers. These large, perfectly round stones typically were


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set atop a tall stone base and left without etchings. There are far fewer examples of these in Spring Vale. Two notable examples are located as part of the Holmes and Rockwood Family Monuments. The Rockwood Monument (c. 1880, right side of photo 0023) features a carved, rusticated stone base with drapery pulled back with a cord to reveal the tablet with the names of the interred. Atop the base are four prong-like stones that hold the large gray granite sphere in place. The Holmes Family Monument (c. 1900, located in the north-central part of the cemetery) features a red granite pedestal with etchings near the top. A large red granite, perfectly smooth sphere rests atop the pedestal. The use of carved stone human figures also plays prominently in the choice of family monuments. The most notable ones are of women who are either in a mourning or triumphant posture. The Levering and Livermore Family Monuments have similarly carved figures atop the family stones and are located in the north-central part of the cemetery. The Levering Monument (c. 1901, right side of photo 0014) for John & Elizabeth Levering, has a granite pedestal topped with a standing woman figure clinging to a cross carved to resemble logs. The cross is atop a short pedestal itself, and has a carved laurel wreath at its base. The Livermore Monument (c. 1880, photo 0016) for George and Katherine Livermore, and Anna Hursh (wife of Rev. Hursh, and presumably the daughter of the Livermores) has an unpolished gray granite pedestal with a carving of a hand with a finger pointed upward in its center. The pedestal is topped with a carving of a woman clinging to a cross of logs that is set into an outcropping of rock. The Rochester Family Monument (c. 1885) is located near the Livermore Monument and features a tall pedestal of unpolished granite topped with a carving of a woman leaning on a classical-inspired pedestal atop which is an urn draped with a pall. A carving of a woman kneeling is atop the large Bohler Family Monument (c. 1890, right side of photo 0009) located in the northwest corner of the first major intersection on the main drive. The woman has a laurel wreath clutched in her hand. The Bohler stone features a wide vault-like gray granite pedestal with stylized, short pink granite columns on each corner. Other figures are depicted in a triumphant pose, ascertain victory over death in the afterlife. One such carving is of marble, located in the center part of the cemetery, atop the Spears Family Monument (c. 1887) for James and Julia Spears. The figure is atop a tall, tapered marble pedestal and features a woman with her left hand raised and her right hand holding an anchor that rests by her feet. Another carving in triumphant pose is atop the Hawkins Family Monument on the west side of the main drive in the center of the cemetery. Here the carving is atop a tall, rounded pedestal of gray granite (c. 1890, photo 0006). The woman is holding a laurel wreath and book in her left hand and arm and her right arm is extended up with the index finger pointed heavenward. The use of the cross as a symbol of hope and salvation for the Christian faith is commonly used for cemetery carvings. Often simply etched into the stone, crosses also take the form of large monuments themselves. A simple, etched stylized cross is in the top of the small Gothic-inspired headstone of Winthrop Stone (1921) on the west side of the cemetery. Two small granite crosses, carved with a very rustic, almost folk appearance, are located in the cemetery. One faces slightly askew from surrounding markers and has “until the day breaks” carved into a smooth panel in its center. No family name is listed on these crosses. Two crosses with Celtic-


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inspired carving are located in the center part of the cemetery. The Levering Monument (c. 1912, photo 0008) is a tall cross intricately carved with geometric Celtic patterns atop a short base with Levering carved in raised letters. The O’Ferrall Monument (c. 1895, photo 0011) is a cross approximately 20’ tall on a short base with O’Ferrall in raised letters. The cross is tapered and is entirely carved with an interwoven Celtic pattern. Several individual, matching short stones are in front of the cross and feature the same interwoven pattern on their sides. A granite cross, approximately six feet tall, is atop a short, stepped base with FOWLER in raised letters in the center of the cemetery. The Fowler Family Monument (c. 1930, photo 0019) features a tapered cross with clean, straight lines. At least three family monuments feature a large stone carving of sarcophagi. The Taylor Family Monument (c. 1910, left side of photo 0019) features a stepped stone base with the sarcophagus atop and partially covered by a pall. The family name is in raised letters on the front of the sarcophagus. The Robert Stockwell Family Monument (c. 1900, north of the administration building) features a polished granite pedestal atop which is a carving of a sarcophagus more fully covered with a pall. The family name is in raised letters at the base of the pedestal. Other notable carvings include symbolism of early death. Sisters Myrtle and Ruth Jenkins died within four months of each other in 1912 and have small, unpolished granite headstones (seen on the right side of photo 0025). Myrtle was less than a year old when she died and has a carving of a lamb atop her stone. Ruth was nine years old at her death. Her stone matches Myrtle’s, but is topped with a carving of a dove with an olive branch in its beak. The stones are side by side in the east-central part of the cemetery. One stone in the north central part of the cemetery has patriotic carvings in its white marble face. James Dicks’ stone is carved with an eagle and shield and the words “Fell at Mission Ridge Nov. 25, 1863”. Often large, central family monuments feature carvings that are then repeated on the smaller individual stones. This is the case on the O’Mara Family Monument (c. 1905, photo 0022) that features a carved swag and tassel design across the top of the monument. Twelve individual, matching stones repeat this pattern or a complimentary egg-and-dart pattern on their top. These are located in the east-central part of the cemetery. One whimsical, more modern (c. 1990, photo 0004) red granite stone features a carving with etched details of a dolphin. The Sollars Monument is located on the west side of the main drive in the south, newer part of the cemetery, and reflects the changing aesthetic of funerary art in the late part of the 20th century. Several bas relief bronzes are located on stones in the cemetery and add a different dimension to the significance art plays at Spring Vale. Notable ones are located on the Wurster Family Monument (c. 1917, photo 0020) which is a natural boulder upon which is fixed bronze medallions of Godfrey and Mary Wurster’s likeness in low bas relief. The Richmond Levering Monument is a pink granite tablet with a recessed bronze plaque with a high bas relief of his likeness (1920, seen in the background, left side, of photo 0024). The Henderson Family Monument (near Richmond Levering, on the east side of the cemetery) features a wide, rusticated granite pedestal with the name in raised letters on the front. A bronze plaque on the side commemorates Charles Henderson, the son of Albert and Lorana Henderson. The plaque features, in low bas relief, a woman laying a wreath at a pedestal carved with Charles’ name. A


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mound of wreaths are on the ground in front of the pedestal and the words “He died saving men” is at the bottom of the pedestal. The plaque is dated 1915. Comparable Cemeteries Comparable cemeteries in Fairfield Township/Lafayette are few. Most of the township and city cemeteries either began as family cemeteries or are connected to a church or denominational. The Isely, Davis-Highman, and Fisk Cemeteries are smaller in scale and were begun as family cemeteries between about 1802 and 1840. Early religious cemeteries established in Lafayette include the Jewish Cemetery (c. 1840), St. Mary’s Cemetery (1834), and St. Joseph’s Cemetery (c. 1880). All three of these are laid out with a fairly rigid grid and simple drives. Greenbush Cemetery, the city’s original burial ground, was established c. 1820 and is mostly defined by regimented rows of graves with little natural geographic features. Only St. Boniface Cemetery, opposite Spring Vale Cemetery on the east side of the old Delphi Road, is comparable to Spring Vale. The cemetery was established at the same time, c. 1868, by St. Boniface Catholic Church in the center of Lafayette. While not overt in its design to the Rural Cemetery Movement, the cemetery, slightly smaller than Spring Vale, takes advantage of winding drives and the mature, native trees that give the impression of driving through a forest when passing by Spring Vale on the west and St. Boniface on the east. The cemetery’s main entryway is met with a roundabout on its grounds, and then dotted with similarly-scaled monuments with religious iconography, though none as large as the monumental family markers in Spring Vale. Developmental History/Additional historic context information


Sections 9-end page 28

______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Major Bibliographical References

Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form.)

Biographical Record & Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, 1888. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. Cothran, James & Danylchak, Erica. Grave Landscapes: The Nineteenth Century Rural Cemetery Movement. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2018. Dehart, Richard P. Past and Present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1909. Heritage 75 & 76, The Commemorative Book of Tippecanoe County, 1826-1976. McAlester, Virginia & Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Pregill, Philip, and Nancy Volkman. Landscapes in History. New York: Van Nostrand

Reinhold, 1993. Remes, Naomi. “The Rural Cemetery.” 19th Century Magazine, Winter 1979. Spring Vale Cemetery (promotional booklet). Lafayette: Murphey-Bivins Co./Allied Printing, c. 1918. Spring Vale Cemetery Records & Burial Registrations, 1868-present. Tippecanoe County Atlas, 1878. Chicago: Kingman Brothers, 1878 Tippecanoe County Interim Report. Indianapolis: Indiana Landmarks, 1990.

___________________________________________________________________________ Previous documentation on file (NPS): ____ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested ____ previously listed in the National Register ____ previously determined eligible by the National Register ____ designated a National Historic Landmark



____ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey #____________ ____ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # __________ ____ recorded by Historic American Landscape Survey # ___________ Primary location of additional data: ____ State Historic Preservation Office ____ Other State agency ____ Federal agency ____ Local government ____ University ____ Other Name of repository: _____________________________________ Historic Resources Survey Number (if assigned): 157-332-25007

______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Geographical Data

Acreage of Property 81.25 acres

Use the UTM system UTM References Datum (indicated on USGS map):

NAD 1927 or NAD 1983

1. Zone: 16 Easting: 511370 Northing: 4477843




X



Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property.) The Spring Vale Cemetery property’s southernmost point begins on the west side of Schuyler Avenue, approximately 420’ north of Blitz Drive. From that point, face northwest and follow the line approximately 70’ until the property line turns back to the northeast, then follow the line northeasterly for approximately 40’, then turn northwest and follow the property line approximately 115’. Then turn slightly westerly, and follow the property line 390’ to a point where the property line turns due north, then face north and follow the line approximately 105’. Turn northeast and follow the property line approximately 190’, then turn slightly northerly and follow the property line 1420’, roughly following the alignment of the Conservation Club Road to the west. Near the junction of a stream and the road, on the south side of the stream, the cemetery property line breaks more easterly and follows the slight curve of the stream’s south bank. Follow the northeast line approximately 500’, then curve with the stream bank and follow the property line more northeasterly 380’ to the cemetery’s north property line. From this point, face slightly southeast and follow the property line 1190’, then turn southeast and follow the property line 740’ to the west side of Schuyler Avenue. Turn southwest and follow the west side of Schuyler Avenue approximately 2,940’ to the point of beginning. Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected.)

The entire property owned by the Spring Vale Cemetery Association is being nominated. This includes the original 63 acres purchased in 1868 upon which the design was created, as well as an additional approximately 20 acres that were added to the west side of the cemetery during the middle part of the 20th century. The additional acreage, while not developed or platted for burials, includes the water features and ravines used to provide vistas and natural setting of the cemetery. The added acreage includes no resources.



_____________________________________________________________________________ 11. Form Prepared By name/title: Kurt West Garner organization: Spring Vale Cemetery Association street & number: 12954 6th Road city or town: Plymouth state: IN zip code: 46563 e-mail: [email protected] telephone: 574-936-0613 date: December 21, 2018 ___________________________________________________________________________

Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form:

• Maps: A USGS map or equivalent (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's

location.

• Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Key all photographs to this map.

• Additional items: (Check with the SHPO, TPO, or FPO for any additional items.) Photographs Submit clear and descriptive photographs. The size of each image must be 3000x2000 at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) or larger. Key all photographs to the sketch map. Each photograph must be numbered and that number must correspond to the photograph number on the photo log. For simplicity, the name of the photographer, photo date, etc. may be listed once on the photograph log and doesn’t need to be labeled on every photograph. Photo Log Name of Property: Spring Vale Cemetery City or Vicinity: Lafayette County: Tippecanoe State: Indiana



Photographer: Kurt West Garner Date Photographed: November 14, 2018 Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking west into the cemetery from outside the stone entry gates. 1 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast toward the receiving vault and bridge. 2 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast toward bridge and grassy ravine. 3 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking southwest in south (newer) part of cemetery. 4 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking southwest toward bridge from central section of cemetery. 5 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northwest at Hawkins Monument, central part of cemetery. 6 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast at Gougar Monument, central part of cemetery. 7 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking southwest at Levering Monument, first main intersection of cemetery. 8 of 25.



Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast at the Blackstock Mausoleum, central part of cemetery. 9 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast, first main intersection of cemetery. 10 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking southwest at O’Farrell Monument on west ravine, central part of cemetery. 11 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking north at administration building. 12 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking north on main drive toward north part of cemetery. 13 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast at Levering Monument, north part of cemetery. 14 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking east from last main intersection, north part of cemetery. 15 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast at Livermore Monument, north part of cemetery. 16 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking southwest at Wellington Mausoleum. 17 of 25.



Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northwest at central mound in north-central part of cemetery. 18 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northwest along central ridge at Fowler Monument. 19 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northwest at Wurster Monument, north-central part of cemetery. 20 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking east at Taylor-Carpenter Monument, central part of cemetery. 21 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking east at O’Mara Monument, central part of cemetery. 22 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northeast at Wallace Monument, east-central part of cemetery. 23 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking northwest at Harter Mausoleum, east-central part of cemetery. 24 of 25. Description of Photograph(s) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Looking west at McNulta & Ames Mausoluem, east-central part of cemetery. 25 of 25.



Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.460 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 100 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Office of Planning and Performance Management. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C. Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Spring Vale Cemetery, Tippecanoe Co. Photo #0001


nps form 10-900 omb no. 1024-0018 united states department of the interior … · 2020-06-03 ·...

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