2025 Cemetery Walking Tour Date - Saturday August 23, 2025
Saturday August 23, 2025. Tour Times are 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Cemetery Restoration ProjectCemetery Sexton: Gary Fenske (920) 369-6160 Princeton City Hall: (920) 295-6612 Spring/summer artificial flowers and other memorial items may be placed on gravesites between the dates of May 1 through October 15th. Any items remaining after October 15th will be disposed of. Christmas wreaths may be placed on the gravesites after Thanksgiving but shall be removed by the following April 1st or will be disposed of by the Cemetery Sexton.
2025 Cemetery Walking Tour Date - Saturday August 23, 2025Saturday August 23, 2025. Tour Times are 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 2024 Cemetery Walking Tour Date - Saturday August 24, 2024Saturday, August 24, 2024 the Cemetery Walk was held featuring the following individuals (individuals who did the portrayal listed after the name) 2023 Cemetery Walking Tour Date - Saturday August 26, 2023The 2023 Cemetery Walking Tour had the portrayal of 10 individuals who are buried in the City Cemetery. Featured this year were Morris Swed (portrayed by Ernie Pulvermacher) a local store owner/businessman, Arnold Ross (Pastor John Stelter) resident & Fire Fighter, Mary Ann Halonen (Mary Lou Neubauer) Veteran from WWII, Carrie Kelsey (Sue Gorr) Civil War widow, Edward "Tiff" Kolleck (Pastor Bruce Hanneman) local barber & musician, Doris Giese (Carol Graff) Princeton public school office worker, John Nelson (Will Gorr) Veteran WWII, Lorraine Otto (Naomi Pulvermacher) Princeton Public School teacher, Vashti Merrill (Linda Ottman) resident from a Princeton pioneer family, and Charlotte Schwarze (Ava Kuklinski) local resident with family ties still in the area.
Cemetery Project Vision and OverviewThe restoration has several components: 1) Cataloging and Indexing Grave Sites 2) Monument and Grounds Clean-up 3) Monument and dedication of Potter's Field 4) Restoration of Monuments and Burial Sites 5) Designation of War Veterans Sites
2018 Historic Newspaper Articles"Scenes of the Past" are Historical articles which are published in the Princeton Times on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from February through November. This link contains a reprint of the stories which have been published.
2017 Historic Newspaper Articles"Scenes of the Past" are Historical articles which are published in the Princeton Times on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from February through November. Following are a reprint of the stories which have been published.
Repairing and Cleaning HeadstonesMany stones in the cemetery are in the excess of 100 years old. Stone restoration can include clearing overgrowth or cleaning of the stone, or may be more extensive and include actual stone repair. The City has engaged the services of a professional to undertake those with extensive repairs needed. Preservation of Veteran Monuments - Placement of Flag HoldersIn April 2016, members of the VFW Post 10452 purchased and placed 13 veteran medallion flag holders at the gravesites of Civil War and War of 1812 Veterans buried in the Princeton City Cemetery.
Potters FieldPotter's Field was recognized and a monument was dedicated in November 2015. Through the efforts of the City Employees and local monument dealer Tom Nikolai, the stone with engraving of "Remember Me Now, Forget Me Never" has been placed as a memorial to all.
Fund Raising and Donations
The Restoration Project has been fund raising to cover the project costs. Donations have come from private parties, civic groups, and bake sales. A donation plaque is placed on the building honoring those who have provided a financial contribution. Pictured is a donation received from the local VFW Post which started the fund base.
Permanent Burial Information kept at City HallInformation Center/Signage for the CemeteryLocated on the storage shed, the Cemetery Information Board was added in 2015. The map display shows the unique "clover leaf" design, along with current events and upcoming fund raisers. There also is a plaque honoring those who have donated to the Restoration Project. A donation of $50.00 or more will generate a plaque in your honor. As part of an Eagle Scout Project, Jack Peters of rural Berlin, built the sign for the front of the building and erected a flag pole by the Gravesite of the Unknown Soldier. Preserving 100 Year Old MapsThe need to preserve the paper maps from the 1800's proved to be a challenge until we discussed the project with Linda and Russell Forbess of "Seams Old". Being recommended by the Wisconsin State Historical Society, Linda preserved our maps for years to come. |