City of Fort Madison issued the following announcement on Nov. 23.
This past July, the Fort Madison Historic Preservation Commission expressed it’s intent to ramp up efforts to clean up the City of Fort Madison’s historic City Cemetery located in the 1400 block between Avenues H and I. Effective today, a generous donor has agreed to match donations given to the Fort Madison Historic Preservation Commission’s City Cemetery Restoration Project. Upon hearing of the Commission’s interest in restoring this historic cemetery, this donor has agreed to match total donations up to $5,000 for monies received by December 31, 2020.
The 3.6 acre cemetery holds close to 1,500 burials, including the remains of some of Fort Madison’s most important founding figures, as well as prominent military figures from the Civil War. The oldest known marked grave is that of General John Holly Knapp, the founder of Fort Madison.
The Commission plans to begin the application process to place the cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chris Sorrentino, Chairman of the Commission, said he was overwhelmed when he heard of the donor’s generosity. He hoped the matching campaign inspires individuals, the community and corporate donors to donate to the project. He hopes to have the cemetery become part of historical tours of the city.
To make a donation, please contact the Fort Madison City Clerk, at City Hall or call (319) 372-7700, ext. 206. All donations should be made to the “Friends of the Fort Madison Historic Preservation Commission” and can be made by check or credit card. Note– Checks and donations should be marked “City Cemetery”.
Original source can be found here.
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