The Dayton Cemetery
Help repair the cemetery access road, allowing future generations a safe and easy way to pay respects to their loved ones.
Dayton Cemetery is a pioneer cemetery in northern Illinois. The first recorded burial occurred in 1835, upon the death of Elizabeth Lair Dunavan Letts, mother of the three Dunavan brothers who married three Green sisters. The historic plot is now the final resting place of more than 223 individuals, including six generations of Dunavans and five of Greens. The cemetery is also home to veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. To learn more about the cemetery, visit our historian’s website.
Established in 1956, the Dayton Cemetery Association is charged with the care and upkeep of the property. Most recently, we hired John C. Heider of Monticello, Illinois, to help us repair more than fifty aged and damaged grave markers. The results are stunning!
The Dayton Cemetery Association gathers for a picnic at Buffalo Rock State Park, LaSalle County, Illinois, 1969
Dayton Cemetery Association annual meeting, 1981
Dayton Cemetery Association annual meeting, 2007
Association members assist John C. Heider and his team with the grave marker restoration, 2014–15
Unfortunately, getting to the cemetery to view these improvements is becoming difficult. The road leading up to the property is in constant danger of washing out, and it and the adjacent parking lot are desperately in need of a permanent fix.
Chris is the association’s dedicated and long-standing grounds chairman. After consulting with contractors, engineers, and local officials, he has determined that we need to (1) pave the parking lot and access road and (2) construct a culvert, or paved ditch, to prevent further erosion and funnel rainwater runoff.
The cost of this project is estimated at $15,000, but an anonymous member has generously pledged to match gifts up to $5,000. Double your gift by donating today!
Thank you sincerely for your support. The Dayton Cemetery Association is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Donations raised in excess of $15,000 will be placed in the cemetery's Care Fund and used to support future projects.
The cemetery access road, October 2019
Detail photograph highlighting the road erosion and rutting, October 2019
Engineer’s sketch of the improvements needed for the access road
An example of our end goal: a paved road with a culvert to funnel rainwater runoff