Dixon’s Oakwood Mausoleum Celebrates 100 Years with Historical Reenactments

Visitors to Dixon, Illinois, will have the opportunity to engage with history during the Oakwood Cemetery Walk on September 28, 2024, from 13:00 to 15:00. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Oakwood Mausoleum, and the event will feature five volunteers reenacting historically significant figures interred within its walls. Organized by the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society, the program aims to educate the public about the mausoleum’s rich history.

The event will commence with a presentation on the mausoleum’s legacy by Karen Yardley. Following this, attendees will have the chance to explore the mausoleum through self-guided tours. A nominal donation of $5 is requested, while children under the age of 12 can enter for free. The cemetery is located at 416 S. Dement Ave.

Among the historical figures portrayed will be:
– Samuel S. Dodge, portrayed by Tom Wadsworth
– Hattie Dodge, portrayed by Gloria Nusbaum
– Oscar Coss, portrayed by Matthew Lenox
– Collins Dysart, portrayed by Jeremy Englund
– Paul Lord, portrayed by Mike McBride

Constructed in 1925, the Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum is not typically open to the public, making this annual event particularly special. According to historian Tom Wadsworth, the mausoleum includes a full-sized chapel, 410 crypts, two private rooms, two deluxe apartments, and a basement receiving vault capable of accommodating several bodies. By 1972, the mausoleum housed the remains of 245 individuals. The city of Dixon acquired the building in 1973 after it had fallen into disrepair. Wadsworth noted that by the time of the 2022 cemetery walk, the structure had been “restored to a respectable condition.”

The mausoleum has also attracted local teenagers over the years, with some seeking thrills within its walls. In 1947, several young people were charged with malicious mischief after breaking in, an incident documented in the archives of the Dixon Telegraph.

The inaugural Oakwood Cemetery Walk took place in 2009, initiated by Wadsworth’s stepmother to shine a light on Dixon’s local history. Over the years, Wadsworth himself has portrayed roughly 10 historical figures, with his favorite being Ed Vaile. Vaile, who passed away in 1955, was a dedicated member of the Dixon Park District Board and played a significant role in the opening of Dixon’s Memorial Pool in 1950. Wadsworth described Vaile as someone who “devoted his life to letting the city be his kids.”

For the upcoming 2025 event, Wadsworth will embody Samuel S. Dodge, one of the first individuals interred in the mausoleum. Dodge, a Civil War veteran and jeweler, passed away in 1924 before the mausoleum was completed. His remains were temporarily held in Astoria, Illinois, until the mausoleum officially opened in 1925.

The entire Oakwood Cemetery Walk is organized by volunteers, and all proceeds support the activities of the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society. This event not only celebrates the mausoleum’s centennial but also fosters a deeper understanding of the local history that continues to shape Dixon today.