Exploring Oakwood Cemetery - Part 1

Today's adventure takes us to Oakwood Cemetery in Joliet Illinois. Not only is this cemetery nearly 200 years old, it is also very rich in history and is home to Illinois governors, mayors, entrepreneurs, and even a Revolutionary War soldier. Back in the 1850's, Joliet was a good size town, not as large as Chicago, but supplied many resources such as limestone to the city of Chicago. So come join my as we explore Oakwood Cemetery.

[@b0nnierolek642]

Amazing history ty stay safe

[@melanieiwasko4393]

Soooo cool!

[@mandyooze3261]

Banging cemetery

[@marypalmer1062]

Wonderful work time after time.

[@indianagrandmary1298]

Thanks for a trip to a very unique and beautiful cemetery.

[@thehometownhistorian2398]

Thanks for your videos. I love doing videos on old cemeteries. So much history in these places. Thank you for bringing these places, people and history to light. You do a great job.

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Thank you!

[@annacarter4879]

Thank you

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Happy you enjoyed it.

[@dm607]

Wow! This place is huge. One of those cut lunch and drink visits. Looking forward to part 2. Cheers from AUS.

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Yes it is! And there's Mount Olivet Cemetery next door that's just as large.

[@14tfisher]

I just started watching your videos, and I must say I have enjoyed each and everyone of them. Keep up the good work, your doing an awesome job. Keep them coming, very informative..👍😊

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Thanks, will do!

[@helencheadle5285]

Please tell us your first name at least,…have asked you on another video…really enjoy adventures with you, but just can’t call you bald guy..sorry…needs changing !. Thanks BG…..really super video…you found some treasures! 🙋‍♀️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍💐

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Sorry I thought I had replied to you. My name is Bryan Magro. Happy you are enjoying the videos!

[@pugsunset1]

Is this the cemetery off Cass St in Joliet by the over pass bridge? Glad to see you have a part 2 coming. Can't wait to see it.

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Yes! That’s the one.

[@pugsunset1]

@@MiddleAgedBaldGuy I thought so. I went on a ghost tour there and learned a lot about the cemetery. I live in the Joliet area have gone passed the cemetery many times in my youth and older. I am not young by any means. LOL Do you have an email? I have a couple of suggestions to share with you. The tree stumps are from Woodsmen of the World. Check them out, google them. I learned this from other cemetery channels.

[@larryborkstrom3580]

That's a nice place sorry to see some vandlise graves come one people let the dead rest in peace

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

I know. I don't know what goes through people's minds to vandalize a cemetery.

[@krissykulik4795]

A tree stump signifies dying early in life, or life cut short..

[@philliptschannen5081]

You should visit Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood

[@mandyooze3261]

That was a grave

[@may-beeart7930]

What did they do with bodies before 17th hundreds?

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

European settlers didn’t arrive in Illinois until the 1820’s. Prior to that it was Native Americans who buried their dead in unmarked burial mounds. Unfortunately, most of those mounds were destroyed by settlers when they began farming the land.

[@jswickstudios1696]

What kinda camera are you using? it's crispy

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

Just using an iPhone 11. Used to use a Canon 70D but the picture quality isn't much different and the iPhone is so much easier to carry.

[@jswickstudios1696]

@@MiddleAgedBaldGuy wow no kidding, that's impressive. Maybe it's time to upgrade my iPhone 7 lol.

[@helencheadle5285]

Hi, it’s me again, you just said that there were several thousand graves there, do you know what the ruling is regarding future burials? I ask, because here in the U.K., in a churchyard, if the grave is in disrepair and unsafe, the church warden will have it taken down and moved against a wall. However, if a grave is no longer visited or tended after 100 yrs, and space is at a premium that grave may be used again. It may sound awful and rarely happens..any family who might have been affected will also have probably passed by then too, so unless descendants are still tending, it’s old and overgrown they have to. Think about it…where are the people who died in thev1500’s say? Needs must, and I’m sure the deceased don’t mind sharing after all that time..besides they will have moved on. Just wondered if you knew cemetery rules there. Thanks.

[@MiddleAgedBaldGuy]

That's a great question and I will have to do some research on that. Several years ago there was a local cemetery that did just that and got in trouble for it. It was all over the news. I know in the Catholic cemeteries, the family pays to have the rights to that grave. I'm not sure if it's forever or if there's a time limit since I personally have never purchased one.

[@philliptschannen5081]

It is Illegal to exhume any remains without just cause to do so.

[@cynthiagraham7863]

@@MiddleAgedBaldGuy usually once u buy a grave site it's yours . USA has different laws than England at least that was what I was told

[@dm607]

Hi Helen. My Grandparents share a hole with 3 strangers in the UK! The newer headstone only has 4 names though because no-one could find any records for the bottom 1500s burial.