May 23, 2011

Day 46: Diggin’ History in Lake Geneva WI: Pioneer Cemetery in Maple Park

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Geneva Lake Area

The Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area offers myriad ways of turning back the pages of time and learning about this “Newport of the Midwest.” If you enjoy tracing the roots of a community plan a walking tour of the Maple Park neighborhood and Pioneer Cemetery.

Located at the northern edge of the historic Maple Park area and downtown Lake Geneva, Pioneer Cemetery covers one square block and is located south of Park Row between Warren and Maxwell Streets. Established in 1837, Pioneer Cemetery was sited upon a portion of land donated by seven early landowners: R.Wells Warren, Greenleaf Warren, Col. James Maxwell, Dr. Phillip Maxwell, Andrew Ferguson, George Campbell and Lewis Goodsell. The men strongly believed it was important to set aside areas for parks, churches, schools and, of course, a cemetery. Walking around the Pioneer Cemetery neighborhood you will recognize streets named after these forward thinking Lake Geneva residents. In addition to namesake streets, street fairs such as Maxwell Street Days – held in the downtown Lake Geneva shopping district, and restaurants – Daddy Maxwell’s in Williams Bay Wisconsin, are named after the founders of Pioneer Cemetery.

Lake Geneva is a haven for visitors, and neighborhoods such as Maple Park hold the key to appreciating its history and stories.

Posted by:  Janis Hartley

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