Mound Cemetery Brooklyn Center, Minnesota               "Since 1862"

On May 2, 1862 a group of men met to establish a cemetery in Brooklyn Center.  Twenty men gave from one to two dollars each to cover initial expenses.  The first president of Mound Cemetery was Asa Howe.  The formal record of certification was dated June 5, 1873. Mound Cemetery is located near 69th Avenue North and West Palmer Lake Drive.  You are welcome to call the cemetery staff at this number: 952-935-0954.               Mound Cemetery Association, 3007 Atwood Drive, Minnetonka, MN. 55305.

An early aerial view of Mound from a time when farms dominated the area.  The Palmer Lake area starts in the upper right, the Cemetery is in the middle with a looped road, the image from the 1940's.

Google MAP coordinates using GPS, input latitude, longitude:  45.0783, - 93.3261

Memorial Day Ceremony 2007

For information on Cemetery Monuments

The cemetery was started with 2 acres of land purchased near Palmer Lake for $48 from James Henderson and his wife.  There were 33 names on the list of donors, workers and original lot owners.

Cemetery Layout View, courtesy of Park Genealogical Books

More HISTORY of Mound Cemetery! Mound Cemetery Association chose the name "Mound Cemetery" because Native American mounds were located at the south end of Palmer Lake.  The Cemetery was dedicated "to God as a holy burial place for His children and was sacred to the community" according to Ellen Bohanon, wife of an Association Treasurer. In 1873, another piece of land, a little over 2 acres was purchased for $30, followed by the official incorporation of the Association.  Again, in 1883, another 2 acres was purchased for $300 from James and Pearl Hendrickson with the stipulation it must always be used for "God's Acres". The final parcel was bought from Frank Howe in 1956. During World War II, when most able-bodied men were in uniform, it was Mrs. Everett Sandahl, mother of six, who took up a pick and shovel and dug over 100 graves during the war.  She later became Secretary of the Mound Cemetery Association.

In the older sections of the cemetery there are iron posts thay may've had rings at the top to tie horses while people visited their ancestors more than a century ago.

Page courtesy of Brooklyn Historical Society, a group that works to preserve the history of Brooklyn Township in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota; and the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park.

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