The Carroll Daily Herald Saturday, May 30, 1936, highlights the dedication of a Civil War monument at the Memorial Day observance.  The monument is an obelisk and lists 68 Carroll County residents who fought in the Civil War. Occupying the position of guest of honor at the service was Mrs. B. W. Coffield, whose husband’s name is among the 68 inscribed on the 85-ton monument. The ceremonies took place from a stone rostrum and dais. A second large obelisk bearing an American eagle motif was also constructed. Cost of the completed projects seems to be $102,000.

The Carroll Cemetery and Mount Olivet, the contiguous Catholic cemetery, became one cemetery in 1970. Mount Olivet was as old as the original Carroll Cemetery.

The original stone pillars still mark the north and south entrances to Graham Park.

In 1990 and 1991, citizen interest resulted in the erection of separate monuments honoring veterans of the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. Their design reflects the original rock design of the cemetery, giving dignity and recognition to all veterans.

Then in 2003, when City funding was not forthcoming to restore the seriously crumbling rock wall, Sexton John Snyder single-handedly initiated a local drive to raise $15,000 for the repairs.  The community responded overwhelmingly, and the City matched the amount.  Snyder went to work making repairs.  The wall stands ready to serve for a long time.

My interest in tracking down the history of this project? Let me explain. Long after my father had passed, his sister gave to me a small newspaper clipping announcing that my father was head of the Carroll NYA (National Youth Administration), an organization within the WPA for youths 17-25. My father would have been 18 years old at the time. My brother and I knew nothing about his work at the cemetery, or Graham Park, only that he was a stone mason. Another news clipping of the old football stadium with its stone entrance also came to light, the caption denoting my father as head of the Carroll NYA. Needless to say, we are certainly proud of his legacy.

Do take time to visit the Carroll Cemetery if you are near Carroll. Turn south off Hwy 30 on Grant Road on the east edge of the town.