Keeping the Wescott Lake Drive Cemetery a place of beauty has been and continues to be a focus of the Lake Drive Cemetery Association.
“I think it is a beautiful spot,” President Mike Schuler said.
Improvements to the grounds are also a priority. A watering system is being installed with sprinklers for the whole cemetery, which has seven undeveloped acres and 15 to 20 acres for burials. The roads also are being prepared to be blacktopped.
“It was long overdue,” Schuler said.
Three years ago a Scatter Garden was developed. Ashes can be scattered in the Memorial Garden, which is planted with native shrubs and flowers, or buried beneath a memorialized brick along a walkway. There is a bench, donated by Vice President Marlene Brown, and a gazebo.
Other recent additions are a flag pole with the Wisconsin flag, a United States flag and a flag that remembers and honors veterans.
“It honors all veterans, past, present and future,” Schuler said.
Flower planters, which were planted by member Ollie Burmeister, decorate the cemetery.
All members of the association take two weeks when they are responsible for watering the plants.
Longtime member Margaret Luedtke makes sure United States flags are placed on the graves of veterans prior to Memorial Day.
The group has bake sales and rummage sales to raise funds. On July 5 and 6, a rummage sale will be held at the Wescott Town Hall on Lake Drive. Members have published three cookbooks, which are for sale at the Wescott offices for $5 each. They also accept donations to help maintain the cemetery.
The association began on April 6, 1948, when a committee of four women was appointed by the Town Board. The first meeting was held on Sept. 4, 1948, when officers were appointed.
One of the first things the women did was get water piped to the cemetery. One of the projects was to raise money for the chapel that is now in the center of the cemetery just inside the arched gate.
The association holds a meeting in the spring with a potluck along with watering and weeding at the cemetery. It also has a fall meeting and a Christmas party.
Dues are $5 a year.
New members, male or female, are always welcome.
“It’s an old and quaint cemetery,” Brown said. “But we keep updating and maintaining it.”
For more information, call Brown at 715-526-2665.
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