Cemetery Mapping Project

Cemetery Project Overview

Beginning in the fall of 2015 the Prairie Central High School Geography classes began the process of mapping all twenty one cemeteries in the school district. Below you will find a map of the cemeteries in the Prairie Central school district. Also, you can find links to completed cemetery maps and as new maps become completed they will also be linked in the list below.

The purpose of the cemetery project is to provide future generations a database for research and a way to honor those who have gone before us. Our hope is to preserve the history of this area and share it with the generations to come. We hope that you find this information helpful in some way. As our data grows, we are finding a significant number of veteran’s graves that have been damaged over the years. Our hope is that we can work with local organizations to raise funds and organize help to replace or repair damaged veterans’ graves in the Prairie Central school district. Those who are interested in helping are encouraged to contact Andrew Quain at Prairie Central High School.

This research was conducted by the students enrolled in the Human Geography classes at Prairie Central High School. The students’ work including cemetery data collection sheets, geographic analysis of the cemeteries, and works cited can be accessed at the Prairie Central High School Library by contacting the school librarian, Ruth Getchius.

Veterans Research

Upon completion of the maps, students identify veteran’s graves that are damaged. Our goal is to replace any damaged veteran’s grave with a historically accurate new stone. Before this can be accomplished detailed research must be performed on each veteran. During the school year, students enrolled in Illinois History class will research the veterans that have damaged gravestones. Their research can be found at the link below:

Local Veterans Research Webpage

Contact Us – Corrections or Updates

Questions, comments, corrections, or updated information pertaining to these maps should be sent to Prairie Central High School, 411 North 7th Street, Fairbury Illinois 61739 c/o Andrew Quain. A form for additions, corrections, or updated information can be accessed by clicking here.

In The News

15 April 2016 – WMBD, CBS Peoria: Local Students Map Cemeteries, Help VFW.

28 September 2017 – WMBD, CBS Peoria: Local Students Help Replace Damaged Gravestones

09 November 2017 – WCIA, CBS Champaign: Teacher to Know Assigns Unique Lessons.

25 November 2017 – Pontiac Daily Leader: PC Students Getting into Amateur Cartography.

10 May 2018 – Pontiac Daily Leader: Prairie Central Geography Class Mapping Cemetery.

17 August 2018 – Office of the Illinois Governor: Letter from Governor Rauner to PCHS students

25 September 2018 – The Pantagraph: On Location: Prairie Central students mapping 21 cemeteries

November 2018 – EIEC Power Lines: Historic Preservation: Cemetery Mapping

24 November 2018 – Pontiac Daily Leader: P.C. Students take grave mapping to Weston

Illinois House of Representatives: House Resolution #1133