1. Somewhere in the middle of Section 9 lies Herbert Roake, 3rd caretaker of G’wood, credited with bringing it to full flower in days when townfolk loved to picnic in the cemetery plus conduct concerts here.

2. Herbert, born in England, came with his father first to Christian Co. because his father had read the name and tho’t a place like “Christian” must be a garden of Eden.

3. Herbert, as a lad, while helping his father who was employed by Queen Victoria as a gardener at Windsor Castle (where the Queen and Prince Albert are buried in the Little Park) remembered Queen Victoria once handing him a tuppence, saying “Here, Lad go buy ye some gingerbread”. Herbert was most impressed that the Queen could speak the commoners’ language.

4. Herbert stayed as Greenwood’s caretaker for 20 yrs., then as APSU’s caretaker another 30. He died in 1954.
 

Information used on the Greenwood Historic Tour of 2001.  Site location information may be found on the Greenwood Cemetery site.

Submitted by Randall Rubel  e-mail: RRUBEL@peoplepc.com

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