FOR ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES local history, especially cemeteries, the Rice County History Museum in Faribault is the place to be at 7 pm Thursday, August 22. Tom Rent, an Oak Ridge Cemetery volunteer, will present “Preserving Faribault’s Oldest Cemetery, Oak Ridge.”
It’s sure to be an informative talk focusing on the cemetery’s history, operation and preservation. Rent will also share photos, stories, headstone symbology, preservation methods and future plans to maintain Oak Ridge Cemetery. Plus, he’ll talk about some of the people who helped shape Faribault and Rice County.
As someone who did not grow up in this region of Minnesota, I’m always interested in learning more about this place I’ve called home for 42 years now. I’ve explored a lot of cemeteries, including Oak Ridge. Cemeteries fascinate me with their history, art, stories, natural beauty, peacefulness and aura of reverence.
Oak Ridge Cemetery, founded in 1857, sits high atop a hill on Faribault’s north side just off Minnesota State Highway 3. It’s a beautiful, wooded location filled with oak, maple and spruce trees, and many aged headstones. There are names—like Nutting and Buckham—recognizable as key figures in local history. There are Civil War and Spanish American War veterans and a daughter of an American Revolutionary War soldier buried here. Senators and representatives, too. Local leaders and farmers. Immigrants and paupers and people from all walks of life. People with stories. So. Much. History.
I especially like that the caretakers/volunteers of Oak Ridge have installed signage profiling some of the people buried in the cemetery. For those like me who are curious about the stories behind the deceased, this is valuable information. I always want to know more beyond names and dates of birth and death. The Oak Ridge Cemetery Facebook page offers lots of historical info, too.
Efforts have also been underway to restore aged tombstones in the cemetery.
I expect Tom Rent will cover much of this in Thursday’s talk. He, like so many others, cares deeply about those who lie buried beneath the canopies of trees at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
FYI: To reserve a seat at Thursday’s presentation, call 507-332-2121, email rchs at rchistory.org or stop at the history museum. The program is free to Rice County Historical Society members and $5 for non-members.
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I never used to enjoy time spend in cemeteries but I have come to appreciate them over time, for their beauty and the stories that they tell
In my opinion, an appreciation of cemeteries comes with aging. I didn’t always like them either.
I think you’re really right about that Audrey –
I could not agree with you ladies more. However, we all THINK we know that someone is assigned to keep the place clean. Not so. Many organizations form (at no cost) to care for these places and many Heritage groups search these cemeteries looking for any and all the graves. These do research ad sometimes this research shows up on cemetery web sites. Many of these cemeteries become sites for special ceremonies – some of which are held annually. I stopped at a cemetery after finding a town that had a shop who could fix my wife’s phone. while on a trip to Minnesota. What I found was the grave of a man who had served on General Napoleon’s Staff during the Waterloo period. One young woman went to a cemetery to visit her GG Grandfather’s grave she found via a cousin. At the cemetery, she talked to my friend a retired former cowboy turned teacher who knew her cousin, and told her all about her Grandfather who was buried there. She was stunned! What she had run into was the annual ceremony my group held to honor those that had passed – flags, period dress included. My own great gg grandfather was the 5th owner of the property he farmed next to the Old Vang Lutheran Church near Dennison, MN. It was initially plotted and granted to a former soldier who served in the War of 1812, So, I am drawn to old cemeteries these days. They are ripe with history of our country and our fore fathers.
I love your story about the young woman visiting the cemetery and meeting your friend who could tell her about her grandfather. We are all connected…
Levi looks like he could share a good story or two. I find cemeteries interesting but I haven’t always felt that way. I think you have to be comfortable with mortality to find peace in a final resting place.
I think you’re right. I’m comfortable with mortality. The Oak Ridge Cemetery talk was really interesting. I heard more stories about people buried there and about tombstone restoration, etc. I should have taken notes and blogged about it. But instead, I just listened and asked questions.