OFHP 1-5 – Potter’s Fields
A potter's field is a term for a place for the burial of unknown or indigent people. The expression potter's field derives from the Bible, referring to a field used for the extraction of potter's clay; such land, useless for agriculture, could be used as a burial site.
Between 1911 and 1971 Cook County interred the remains of the residents of the Cook County Poor Farm, Cook County Hospital, Cook County Tuberculosis Sanatorium and indigent from across Cook County. It is estimated that over 90,000 people were buried on these grounds over this period.
The map shows the location of the newborn burials, the original cemetery, and the concrete vault cemetery. Also shown is an additional cemetery to the south which was later determined to be much larger than shown on the map. (see OFHP 1-4 – Tales From The Crypt)
Cook County Cemetery at Oak Forest
Cook County Cemetery at Oak Forest is in the northeast corner of the Oak Forest Hospital grounds. This cemetery was used between about 1912 and 1971 to receive the indigent from the City of Chicago replacing Cook County Cemetery - Old Grounds and Cook County Cemetery and New Grounds at Dunning (both within Jefferson Park Township). This cemetery site was chosen because at the time, the site was considered to have had adequate space for future needs. Its use as an institutional infirmary cemetery was secondary to its role as a county potters field. In fact, indigent burials from Oak Forest Hospital amounted only to one or two per year.
Over the years the cemetery was a victim of negligence. Reports of problems were made as early as December 3, 1923 when the Annual Report of the Cook County Infirmary was released. Anton J. Cermak, who would later become Chicago's mayor was the President of the County Board at the time. The report stated "The rough unkempt tract of ground set aside for the burial of our deceased dependents is sadly at variance with other departments of our county's progressiveness. This unsightly and barren area would be more in harmony with the rest of our Institutional premises if converted into a well kept and attractive park with the adornments of trees, shrubbery, flowers, and intersected with convenient walks and driveways." Unfortunately, this never came to pass, existing only in the flowery language of the report.
In the Summer of 1958, the superintendent launched a massive renovation project building a new twenty-five acre cemetery next to the old potter's field. It was designed to contain twelve thousand separate graves, each with its own concrete headstone. This was a great improvement contrasted to the old method of digging eight foot trenches with a wooden slab bearing an identification number. During this renovation, archeological research produced the mapping of an entire Indian village that was formerly on the site. Despite this important discovery, no Indian burial ground was found. The cemetery filled up quickly. In 1970, Cook County Cemetery, lacking additional space, closed permanently. Some 90,000 burials are known to have been made here. Written records of these burials have been preserved by Cook County, beginning March 4, 1911, and continuing through November 17, 1971.
The cemetery was re-dedicated on October 11, 1990, with a new entrance at 159th street and Crawford (Pulaski in Chicago).
Upon the closing of Cook County Cemetery at Oak Forest, the county began sub-contracting pauper burials to Archer Woods Cemetery, now (Mt. Glenwood Memory Gardens West). In 1981, the contract was awarded to Homewood Gardens. An excellent set of ledger books covering virtually all burials in the cemetery are, as of this writing, stored in the basement of the Oak Forest Hospital. They are under the supervision of the Medical Records Department. Records for more recent indigent burials can be requested through the offices of the Cook County Medical Examiners Office.
Someday, if funding can be secured, visitors interested in genealogy may be able to search through records of the more than 90,000 people who were buried in the cemetery, perhaps finding traces of an ancestor's story. Handwritten volumes still exist that recorded the deceased's name, country of origin, cause of death and occupation. Those records eventually could be used to create a searchable database at a visitors' center.
The Cache:
Stage 1: The first stage takes you to a marker which represents the only current memorial for the Cook County Potter’s Field. At this location, solve for the NORTH coordinates of the final.
A = The number of letter O’s in the third word of text on the marker.
B = The last number in the year that this marker was dedicated.
C = The number of letter C’s on the entire marker (including the seal) – 5
Stage 2: Follow the path west until you come across an informative sign about The Potter’s Fields. It will be on North side of the path. From this sign, solve for the WEST coordinates of the final.
D = How many times the word POOR is seen in the paragraph (including part of a word) about the poorhouse cemetery (not including title)
EF = From a different era paragraph, use the numbers provided to calculate how many people were buried per acre, and subtract 444.
N41˚ 36.ABC W87˚ 43.DEF
Medium container with enough room for a few trackables and items for trade.
** Congratulations to badlands for the FTF! **
Parking:
Visitors can enter the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve off 159th Street, through the Medical Center's main entrance, and follow the signs (just tell security that you are visiting the Heritage Preserve). Parking is also available through the parking lot on Fieldcrest Drive just off of Pulaski or at the Fieldcrest Park parking lot.
Notes:
- Bring your camera! This is a beautiful preserve with a lot of wildlife, history, and many informative signs.
- This is a forest preserve and I suggest bug repellent and long pants. Watch for poison ivy, although I tried to place all caches away from it, you may run into it. There are also ticks in the area.
- This series can be done walking, running, or biking.
- Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all times.
- Do not place the following items in the Geocache: Food items, inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials.
- Hours are sunrise until sunset. Preserve users must not be in the preserves after hours.
- Please remember, it’s not an official find until you log it online.