Driving into Minneapolis may look fine to visitors, but residents are still shocked by the absence of trees and fence at the Highland Cemetery. While still filled with beautiful statues and ornate headstones dating back to 1865, the trees were hit by ice storms in 2009, parasites in 2011, and  100 mile-per-hour winds in 2013. The long needle pines that had shaded the cemetery for a century had to be removed.

 

The iron fence was removed when the cemetery board determined that there were not sufficient funds for repair. The fence can be seen on Rothsay Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. The iron fence replaced a board fence in 1904. You can learn more in the Aug. 1, 2013 issue of The Minneapolis Messenger (www.mymessengerks.com).

• how many flagpoles line the entrance
• how many water spigots are in the cemetery
• there are 32 blocks, each containing 60 plots with 6 burial spaces...how many people could be buried in the current cemetery