Wauwatosa Cemetery
Charles Hart, a pioneer settler of Wauwatosa,
established its original cemetery with the death of his wife Sarah in 1841.
Sara Hart was buried on a hill overlooking Wauwatosa Avenue on the southwest
corner of Wauwatosa and Milwaukee Avenues. In 1846, Hart sold the land that
included Sarah's burial site for fifty dollars to the Village of Wauwatosa for
use as a public cemetery.
Before even two decades had passed, the
cemetery was considered too small for the growing community. Rev. Enoch
Underwood, of the First Baptist Church, donated land to relocate the cemetery
in 1866. At that time, many of the graves were transferred north to the present
cemetery; some graves, however were moved to other cemeteries.
In 1914,
the original First Baptist Church was relocated to the cemetery for use as a
memorial chapel.
As in other areas of the nation, public parks were
uncommon at the return of the century. For many years, residents used the
Wauwatosa Cemetery as a popular green space for picnics and
socializing.
Underwood Family headstone - In 1915, the Underwood Family monument was installed at the cemetary. At that time, it is the largest of its kind in Wisconsin. It weighs 20 tons and measures 6 feet by 9 feet and 5 feet high. It required 12 horses, 1 street car, 11 men and 6 hours to move it into the cemetery.
First Baptist Church, now used a memorial chapel - Present day
Picnic at the Wauwatosa Cemetery in front of the First Baptist Church which was moved there in 1914