Whitehall group seeks ordinance change to restore headstones of Civil War vets

The Whitehall Area Historical Foundation is hoping to repair and clean the headstones of Civil War veterans buried in nearby cemeteries, but first needs the city to change an ordinance.

WAHF representatives Linda Mossman and Barb Johnson spoke to the city council at last Tuesday’s regular meeting, explaining the work they had done up to that point. That included finding the graves of more than 40 veterans who are buried at either Lincoln Cemetery or the old Whitehall Cemetery. Some of the headstones need to be repaired and others cleaned, but city law doesn’t allow them to do the work.

Mossman told council members that the foundation contacted Headstones & Blooms out of Baraboo to assist and teach foundation members how to repair the headstones. But before work could be started, the company asked to review the city ordinance, and realized it does not allow outside parties to restore headstones. Mossman requested the city change its ordinance to allow the work to be done.

“You have everything else you need or want (in the ordinances); we just need this particular wording in to allow us to do the work,” Mossman said.

Mayor Jeff Hauser said he didn’t think the change would be significant, but the city still had to run it by its attorney.

“If it is within our rights and powers, I’d like to see this project go forward,” Hauser said.

The maintenance on the headstones is typically up to family members, but Hauser speculated that there probably aren’t many around who are willing to do that.

“They were from very famous families around then, but there aren’t many left,” Mossman said.