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Riverside fund drive surpasses 2024 goal


Among the notable Hannibalians buried at Riverside Cemetery is Dr. A.L. Allen, who, before coming to Hannibal to practice medicine, was acting assistant surgeon at St. Louis and Jefferson Barracks, where he worked from Nov. 15, 1861, through Oct. 10, 1865. He and his family are buried in Section C, Riverside Cemetery. Mary Lou Montgomery file photo. https://www.maryloumontgomery.com/single-post/2018/08/25/civil-war-physician-relocated-to-hannibal-after-war-s-end


MARY LOU MONTGOMERY


A fund drive which began in the fall of 2024, dedicated to raising funds to assist with restoration of the dilapidated road leading to Riverside Cemetery, surpassed its end-of-the-year goal, according Jim Youse, president of the Riverside Cemetery Association board.


The goal was $10,000, which - if collected by the end of the year - would be matched by a Riedel Foundation grant.


Topping that goal by $583.70, the net result, including the Riedel grant, is $20,583.70.


Youse thanks the community as a whole for helping to put this fundraiser over the top.


A big portion of the fund drive came in the form of a benefit concert on Dec. 15, 2024, hosted by the Hannibal Arts Council. Proceeds were dedicated to the Riverside Cemetery fund. Seventy tickets were sold for the concert, which featured Bill Morrison on piano; Bennet Wood on saxophone; Tom Byrne on guitar; Jim Batson on bass and Marty Morrison on drums.


Other donations came in the form of individual and business gifts.


The narrow and winding road leading to the cemetery, as reported by this newspaper in November, is vulnerable to the weather, particularly erosion. Despite ongoing efforts to grade and re-rock the road, weather continues to take a toll, at times leaving the road impassable.


Contributing to this issue is a dwindling maintenance fund. The notable cemetery, whose inhabitants include some of Hannibal’s earliest and most prominent citizens, has few new revenue sources, and the historic fund is quickly being eroded by escalating seasonal mowing costs.


The Hannibal Board of Public Works, during its scheduled work day in the fall, was able to complete some necessary maintenance at the cemetery, including brush removal.


Youse has been talking to prospective donors since taking office in September.


“There is a lot of interest in the cemetery, a good level of excitement,” he said.


Youse was confident they would be able to raise the funds necessary in order to make improvements to the cemetery.

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