2 10 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
* 
OAKDALE CEMETERY, WILMINGTON, N. C. 
Oakdale cemetery, Wilmington, N. C. , prettily 
located in the thriving southern city, was first estab- 
lished in 1853 and the first interment was made 
February 11, 1855. It comprises 80 acres of land, 
the soil of which is principally sand with some clay, 
and it is surrounded on three sides by water, while 
its highest point is some thirty feet above tide level. 
1'he views give an idea of the nature of the 
roads and the general aspect of the cemetery and 
its style of lay out. As may be observed, and 
which of course is common to the older cemeteries 
in which ideas prevailed not now considered good 
practice, there is considerable stone curbing, fences 
and such old style cemetery adornment. This, 
where conservatism is deep rooted as is the case in 
all old-time communities, it takes patience to change 
into modern conditions; but there is an air of pro- 
gress visible in the beautiful grounds, and as is ex- 
hibited in a few other southern cemeteries, rapid 
strides are being made to modify such defects in the 
beautiful land-cape pictures, as mar the harmonies, 
and progress will be pronounced as the lot owners 
become educated to the idea that it is not the one 
lot of their own, upon which they 
should lavish their entire thought, 
but upon their one lot as a compo- 
nent factor of a beautiful whole. This 
is the key note of beautiful cemetery 
landscape v/ork, and the sooner it is 
well understood the more attractive 
will the older cemeteries become. 
There are in Oakdale six miles of 
macadamized roads and thirteen miles 
of walks and avenues. Twelve sec- 
tions of four acres each have been 
laid out, and the standard size of lots 
is 400 feet, but there are many rang- 
ing; from 800 to 1,600 feet and the 
largest lot in the cemetery is 4,000 
feet. 
Pumps are employed for water 
service and the supply is taken from 
the adjacent river. 
Neither a receiving tomb nor greenhouses have 
yet been constructed. The climate is so mild that 
interments can be made at any season of the year 
and on any day, and the same conditions in a 
measure regulate the planting of the cemetery. 
During the thirty-five years of the superinten- 
dency of Mr. Timothy Donlan, to whom we are in- 
debted for photographs and particulars of Oakdale, 
7,500 whites have been interred, — negroes have a 
cemetery of their own. Of the above number 1,037 
were U. S. soldiers, whose remains were removed 
to the National Cemetery when it was established 
in 1868. During 1896 there were 94 burials. 
The lodge illustrated herewith was erected this 
year to take the place of the building destroyed by 
fire, of which notice was made in these columns. 
It is constructed of brick veneered with brownstone, 
rubble face. The trimmings generally, as well as 
pediment over front entrance, is of buff stone. It 
is roofed with slate with copper finials and ridge 
crest. The tower, which is 14 feet by 14 feet and 
30 feet high, contains in its first story the superin- 
tendents office. The front vestibule is 12 feet by 6 
feet with tiled floor and the reception room is 34 
OFFICE BUILDING. 
