This caches final
location was modified and was given a new
name.
IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY
FOUND "WSQ PIONEERS OF NEW BERLIN" YOU ARE NOW WELCOME TO FIND AND
RE-LOG THIS CACHE, AS THE FINAL IS IN A NEW
LOCATION!!
On August 18, 2010 a Re-Dedication ceremony was held here to
celebrate the uncovering of New Berlin's Historic cemetery. Though
there are only a few remaining stones, you can still see evidence
of where a few once stood. Noted in the article, from
Newberlinnow.com, there were supposedly wooden crosses here also,
but all have fallen and decomposed.
A Historic Discovery Uncovered
The first German church was Lutheran and this cemetery is the
only remaining evidence. The cemetery was used for burials for more
than 25 years, with the last one occurring about 1870. Of the 93
burials, 65 were infants or children.
Originally, a church, parsonage and school stood near the old
cemetery. The pioneers were Germans, many of whom were seeking
religious freedom. They came to America and settled in New Berlin
after Prussian ruler Frederick William III issued a decree forcing
all Lutherans to accept certain articles of faith. They refused and
the first group of Protestant Germans arrived in New Berlin from
Rhenish-Bavaria in 1840. That was only a year after New Berlin had
been opened for land grants.
That is when the same schism that tore apart the Lutheran church
in Germany arose in the New Berlin congregation. The Reformed
portion of the congregation separated and built a Reformed church a
half-mile north of their former church near Racine Avenue and
Swartz Road. The new church lasted until the 1950s. This pioneer
cemetery was forgotten and was being engulfed by nature until the
Landmarks Commission stepped in.
When reading through the wonderfully built signage here, you
will come across some very familiar names, as many of the nearby
roads are of the same names.
To find this cache you will need to visit the signage, get a
little history lesson and do a little math. Though this is a small
cemetery, I was so excited to come across it, I couldn't stop at
just one way point. Have fun and enjoy this newly found and
uncovered local treasure.
Please note that at no time is a cache
container placed on or in a grave marker.To find the
next WPT you need to get the following info and do a little
addition. (NOTE:Use the last 2 digits when using
"years"):
N 42 58.ABC To get ABC, add together the following missing
#'s
The year Streeter arrived 18_ _
The year Kerns arrived 18_ _
The year Sittle arrived 18_ _
The year Swartz arrived 18_ _
The number of interments MINUS 76
W 088 09.DEF To get the DEF, add together the following missing
#'s
Cost of the Church $_ _ _
Price Damm sold the land for $_ _
The age George Sittel passed away _ _ years of age