Concord Congregational Cemetery

The Concord Congregational Cemetery is a historic site located in Concord Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. The cemetery was established in 1856 when the first burial took place. It is significant as a representation of the pioneer settlement era and the development of the village of Cottage Hill, no longer extant, and the surrounding area.[2] Its period of significance continues until 1906 when the last burial took place.

Concord Congregational Cemetery
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	21755 N. U.S. Route 52
Nearest city	Durango, Iowa
Coordinates	42°35′10″N 90°54′45″W
Area	less than one acre
NRHP reference No.	100001215[1]
Added to NRHP	October 27, 2017

The cemetery lies to the north of an old stagecoach route known as the Territorial Road, now U.S. Route 52. It contains about 23 marked burials and eight that are unmarked. The site is enclosed by a post-and-wire fence with trees lining the fences. There is no formal landscaping within the cemetery proper, and the graves are laid out in an irregular fashion. The grave markers vary in designs and for the most part, are moderate in size. There are some larger monuments for individuals and families, as well as some smaller markers. They are carved from white or grey marble. The exception is the Paisley family plot, which is laid out in rows and the marker in a zinc alloy called white bronze. While popular in the late nineteenth century, they are rarely seen in cemeteries today.[2] The family plot is enclosed with decorative iron fencing.

The Congregational church was established here in 1855, and a small frame church was constructed three years later. It remained in operation until about 1906. The church building remained in place until at least the 1920s when it was moved to Rickardsville and used for a variety of functions until it was taken down in 1980. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.[1]

References

1. "National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
2. Colleen Vollman; Jason O'Brien; Nurit Finn; Owen Reese; Michael Finn; Toby Morrow. "Concord Congregational Cemetery" (PDF). Dubuque County, Iowa. Retrieved 2017-11-13.

See also

• Cottage Hill Methodist–Episcopal Cemetery, also located in what was the town of Cottage Hill