Hope Cemetery, Galesburg’s oldest burial ground since 1836, holds the stories of the city’s founders, veterans, and trailblazers, as shared by local historian Harry Bulkeley on Galesburg’s Morning News. This Friday’s “Run For Your Life” 5K/1-Mile Run/Walk at 6 p.m. raises funds to preserve this legacy through maintenance and a new scattering garden.
Founded a year before Galesburg’s 1837 organization, the cemetery began as “the burying ground” for New York settlers, with its first burial in 1836. Its name, “Hope,” remains a mystery, but its role as a historical cornerstone is clear, housing graves of Reverend George Washington Gale, the city’s namesake; Hiram Kellogg, Knox College’s first president; and street namesakes like Ferris and Simmons.
Among its 180 Civil War veterans is George Williams, a sergeant in the 54th Massachusetts, the first Black regiment, featured in Glory. Edgar Addison Bancroft, a U.S. Ambassador to Japan, was honored with citywide closures at his 1920s funeral. Reflecting Galesburg’s diverse roots, Bulkeley noted the cemetery holds no racial distinctions.
Surrounded by development, it has few burial plots left, rendering it “basically inactive” for revenue. Annual maintenance costs of $12,000-$14,000 exceed the $8,000 trust income, with challenges like tree removal and headstone repairs—hindered by lack of ownership—adding strain. A $10,000 city grant provides support, but community involvement is critical.
The “Run For Your Life” event, starting at Hope Cemetery, offers a scenic, family-friendly course. Register at getmeregistered.com or donate to the Hope Cemetery Association-Maintenance Fund.
Learn more in our Galesburg’s Morning News podcast with Jack Templeton and Harry Bulkeley below.
