Twenty-plus chapter members
were joined by family and friends
in the community, for a gathering
of more than one hundred, to mark
the completion of the 'Tiny
Stones' project on April 23, 2017.
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Past chapter
regent helps place a
final stone at the
ceremony.
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Regent
stands with
Governor Terry
Branstad.
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Photo
by
Robert
Koutek
At the
conclusion of the
ceremony, a carnation
was placed on each
grave marker.
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Stone
Markers Placed at
Baby Hill
"Through the cooperative
efforts of many, the final
resting place of hundreds
of infants who died more
than a century ago were
given proper markers in a
ceremony held April 23,
2017 at Des Moines’ most
hallowed burial grounds,
Woodland Cemetery.
Gerald A. LaBlanc is the
historian emeritus of
Woodland Cemetery, where
Iowa history unfolds in
its intimate, rolling
hills. Over the years,
hundreds of people have
listened to LaBlanc during
his walking tours,
inspired by his love and
respect of the history
resting beneath its grave
markers.
In 2009, the Abigail Adams
Chapter, DAR, took
LaBlanc’s tour when he
identified several DAR
graves. He also shared the
story of Baby Hill, a
small section along the
south edge of Woodland
Cemetery that held the
mortal remains of more
than 500 pioneer infants
who died between 1898 and
1905. The devastating
deaths were caused by a
small pox epidemic and
other diseases that swept
across Iowa.
Click
on the photo
above for a
short video about
Gerald
LaBlanc.
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Although LaBlanc’s
declining health stopped
his walking tours, his
passion for preserving
Baby Hill never waned. So
he initiated a fundraising
drive to provide stones
for the hundreds of
unmarked graves on that
site.
In 2013, the City of Des
Moines recognized LaBlanc
for his historical
leadership. He also was
awarded the National
Society DAR Historic
Preservation Medal.
Laura Kozin, who became
DAR Chapter Regent in
2014, and LaBlanc
connected, creating a
mission-driven force to
complete his goal of
placing a stone marker for
each infant interred in
Baby Hill.
The Abigail Adams Chapter
renewed the project’s
fundraising efforts.
However, when they fell
$27,500 short of their
goal, new resources were
needed. That’s when former
Gov. Terry E. Branstad’s
Iowa History Fund gave
their efforts renewed
hope.
With a $10,000 pledge from
his foundation, Branstad
challenged some community
leaders to match the funds
to achieve the goal. Kurt
Rasmussen, Suku Radia, and
Prairie Meadows responded.
McCall Monument donated
$5,500 for the increase in
grave marker costs and all
of the funds needed were
raised.
In a moving ceremony on
April 23, the final three
headstones were installed
on Baby Hill, completing
the circle of respect that
began 120 years ago. "
Iowa History Journal,
Volume 9, Issue 4, page 6,
July/August 2017
Article written by John
Busbee
© 2017 Iowa History
Journal
Used by permission |
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We are grateful
for community-wide courtesy
and cooperation
on this project that is
so meaningful for our members.
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Abigail Adams
Chapter, NSDAR, has a long-standing
connection to Woodland Cemetery,
largely based on the fact that six
of the women, who founded Abigail
Adams Chapter, NSDAR, in 1893, are
buried there. Three "Real Daughters"
(actual daughters of patriots and
soldiers who served in the American
Revolution) rest there, including
the first Regent of Abigail Adams
Chapter, NSDAR.
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