Lombard Cemetery

History of the Lombard Cemetery

The Lombard Cemetery (formerly Babcock’s Grove Cemetery) began as a community burial plot in 1851 for Babcock’s Grove. The owner of the land, Reuben Mink, officially donated the property to the community, establishing the Babcock’s Grove Cemetery Association. After 1869, when Babcock’s Grove became Lombard, it became the Lombard Cemetery Association.

The first burial was on July 11, 1851, although the headstone no longer remains. Over the years, many of Lombard’s most notable residents, including Sheldon and Harriet Peck, William Hammerschmidt, Christia Reade and Charles Assman have been buried here. It features many historic stones with images and symbols that were common during the
mid-1800s.

Restoration

Cemetery restoration began when the property was deemed abandoned by the Village of Lombard. An ad hoc committee was formed with the Lombard Historical Commission and the Lombard Historical Society at the helm. The committee included the Lombard Park District, the Village of Lombard, the Lombard Garden Club, and interested residents.  

A plan was devised to clean up debris, remove overgrown trees and shrubs, replace the fence, restore fallen gravestones, and establish a memorial garden on the west end of the Cemetery. A hard-working team of volunteers led by Rita Schneider of the Historical Commission and chairperson Tom Fetters of the Historical Society was able to turn an eyesore in the community to a beautiful historic site. During the process, 16 buried stones were discovered. The Cemetery was granted landmark status by the Village in 2011.

Remembering our Veterans

In 2013, a partnership of the Lombard Historical Society, the VFW Lilac Post 5815, Boy Scout Troop 40, and School District 44 was formed to work together to recognize the veterans buried in the Lombard Cemetery. Ten soldiers who fought in the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World War I were in unmarked graves in the Lombard Cemetery as of October 2012. All of these veterans were eligible for free headstones from the Department of Veterans Affairs. New headstones were applied for and ordered for these veterans.

Members of the VFW Lilac Post 5815 and its Ladies' Auxiliary worked with the Lombard Historical Society and Lombard Historical Commission to research, fill out paperwork, and coordinate additional fundraising for the project. Additionally, students from District 44, raised over $1.500 and the scouts from Troop 44 installed the new headstones.

Today
The cemetery is open to the public from dawn until dusk everyday of the year.

All of the lots in the Lombard Cemetery were sold many years ago and there are none currently available. Any current burials that you may see taking place are those of family members who have a deed to a lot and can prove their relationship to the lot owner. There must also be space in that lot to accommodate the burial. 

What’s Next?
Today, the cemetery is guarded by the Lombard Cemetery Citizens Committee, which includes the VFW Lilac Lodge #5815. The maintenance is funded through the Lombard Historic Preservation Commission budget and comes under the umbrella of the Lombard Historical Society.

Donations
If you wish to support the Cemetery, the Lombard Historical Society can accept “in-kind” donations, such as benches and trees and you can also donate to the Lombard Historical Society General Fund.

Please contact the Lombard Historical Society to volunteer for future cemetery projects.