Acacia Park Cemetery

Envision a cemetery not as a place of endings, but as a repository of stories. Here at Acacia Park Cemetery, every tombstone whispers a tale. Acacia Park Cemetery isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a beautifully designed space with Masonic symbolism woven into its landscape. Established in 1922 in Norwood Park Township, just outside Chicago, Acacia Park Cemetery shares its southern border with Irving Park Cemetery. Interestingly, its northern neighbor, Westlawn Cemetery, is easily accessible through open gates in the dividing fence. Two grand entrances grace the south side of Acacia Park. Just beyond each entrance, a hill rises, crowned by a statue and an obelisk proudly displaying the Masonic symbol. Between these obelisks, a sunken garden leads to the magnificent centerpiece of Acacia Park, a stunning classical mausoleum. It’s considered one of the finest in the Chicago area. One of the key figures in Acacia Park’s history was Street Lightfoot. He envisioned a unique resting place for Masons and their families. His vision culminated in the construction of the grand mausoleum, dedicated in 1927. Lightfoot’s creation featured family rooms, each with personalized bronze gates, single crypts, and columbariums for cremated remains. The main chapel boasts high vaulted ceilings, and, unusually for a mausoleum, carpeted floors and comfortable furnishings. Lightfoot even included an organ, a unique feature at the time. Acacia Park Cemetery holds the stories of remarkable individuals, including World War I hero Johannes Anderson, singer Ral Donner, baseball legend Red Faber, and even Alvah Curtis Roebuck, co-founder of Sears. Their legacies, along with countless others, rest within these grounds. As you wander through Acacia Park, remember you are walking amidst a tapestry of lives lived, each contributing to the rich narrative of this unique cemetery.