About
About us
Evergreen Cemetery Association is a non-profit, non-denominational, independent cemetery association providing interment services to all races and religions. It is committed to honoring the heritage of past generations, respectfully serving the needs of present generations, and providing a legacy for future generations with interment space available over the next 100 years. Organized in 1867, it is comprised of over 30 acres east of the CN Railway tracks, and is noted for its trees, beautiful lawns and quiet village setting. The cemetery is located off Dundee Avenue in downtown Barrington. The oldest part of the cemetery is the south section, west of Dundee Avenue, north of Hillside Avenue, and south of Sturtz Drive in the cemetery. This section contains large historical markers commemorating Barrington’s pioneering leaders and community families. For an informative, up-close tour of the grounds, view ‘A Walk Through Evergreen Cemetery’ compiled by the Barrington Area Library by visiting the library website or linked here.
The focal point of the cemetery is the Civil War Monument which is located at the apex of the grounds on Monument Drive. The monument was installed by the Woman’s Relief Corps #85, a Civil War Veterans Auxiliary with a mission to support the Grand Army of the Republic’s (G.A.R.) commitment to aid Union veterans and promote patriotism through education. The Village of Barrington’s annual Memorial Day remembrance parade and program conclude here at the monument every year.
When the monument was installed and dedicated in September, 1906, three Civil War cannons were placed along the front of the monument’s circular plot of ground, with an extra large cannon in front of the monument. These three were put in cement and with iron strapped in place. On the north and south sides of the circle, large triangles of Civil War cannon balls were set in cement and welded together. A smaller Civil War cannon was located in back of the monument. In spite of the firm fastening of these items, theft was a problem over the years. The extra large cannon in front of the monument and the cannonballs were stolen, never to be found. The two smaller cannons were stolen, but retrieved: one was found on Lake Zurich Road and the other on Otis Road. These two cannons remain as part of the monument today
Directly west of the Civil War Monument and down a slope is the first Veteran cemetery section. Between 1918 and 1934 ten graves were dedicated to honor World War I veterans. These are easily recognized by traditional upright white grave markers. In 1954, the cemetery donated to the Barrington American Legion Post 158 an additional 3,280 square feet for 56 burial sites. This veteran section is marked by a 14 foot pyramid monument of native fieldstone dedicated in 1955. Inscriptions on each side commemorate the dead from all service branches.
In 2022 a commemorative plaque and rose bush were installed on the west side of the pylon in this Veteran section. The plaque commemorates the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and was donated by the Signal Hill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The cannon located along the southwest side of the pylon was manufactured by the Japanese in 1911 and used by their army against General Douglas MacArthur’s Army in the Philippines where it was captured by the United States Army, circa 1912. It was received by the American Legion Post #158 from the United States government as a replacement for a World War I cannon that the American Legion Post had placed at the flagpole in the center of the Village of Barrington after World War I. This cannon was donated to the World War II scrap drive. Upon receiving it, the U.S. Government promised to replace it after World War II which it did in the mid 1950s. The American Legion Post then placed it in Evergreen Cemetery in 1976. The cannon wheels are currently being restored with the generous support of the American Legion Post, and should be reinstalled in 2024.
American Legion Post #158 purchased additional gravesites in two other sections of Evergreen in 2008 and 2017, providing an additional 40 gravesites. One of these is located just west of the original Veteran section. It is adorned with midnight black granite pillars, four honoring the service of Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy/Marine veterans. The center black granite obelisk recognizes the dedication of Post 158 and is adorned with the American Flag. The most recent Veteran section has not yet been utilized. All burials in the Veteran sections are at the discretion of the Post 158 grave administrator and acting Commander.
