Oakland Cemetery Walk Returns This Saturday
Oakland Cemetery is one of Fort Dodge's hidden historical treasures. Designed in the tradition of the rural cemetery movement popular in the late 1800s, the 40-acre park-like grounds hold over 7,000 graves — including more than 200 Civil War burials, both Union and Confederate — and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ruth Bennett, a board member of the Oakland Cemetery Committee, has been leading research efforts since 2013. continuing the work begun by Jerry and Marva Rowe, who spent years documenting graves, marking soldiers' resting places, and building the cemetery's directory. Among the site's unique features are eight ornate "tree monuments" that resemble actual trees with branches and vines — including a touching pair believed to honor a Civil War couple buried apart, their stone trees reaching toward each other.
The annual Oakland Cemetery Walk takes place this Saturday, June 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a free-will donation requested. Visitors should park at Good Shepherd Church and take a shuttle bus into the cemetery, where guides will lead groups through Section F to visit over 29 historic graves. The event relies entirely on volunteers, and organizers are urgently seeking new participants and portrayers to keep the tradition alive — without them, the walk may end within two years. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to reach out to Teresa Naughton, who can connect volunteers to the committee.
