O
n May 23, on a pleasant Saturday morning of the Memorial Day Weekend, King Oscar Lodge No. 855 held its annual Cemetery Cleanup at KO’s ultimate R.I.P. plot located at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, IL, followed by a cookout at the Jefferson Masonic Temple, in Chicago.
A number of Brethren showed up to tidy up the grounds at the cemetery and then head to the Temple where Bro. George and Bro. Chester manned the outdoor grill to prepare some delicious pork chops for all to enjoy.
This year there was a loose tombstone plaque to secure (thank you Bro. Rich) and some tree trimming that needed to be done (thank you Owens brothers).
We made sure to locate the resting place of Bro. Svante Nystrom, the grandfather of W. Bro. Gordon Nystrom who he mentioned in the letter posted earlier (read it here if you missed it). We noticed that unfortunately his last name was misspelled. A typo most likely due to the engraver. Before leaving, WM Hardesty lead us in prayer for our departed brethren.
While looking around, W Bro. Bruno’s curiosity was excited by the tallest obelisk across the reflecting pool nearby. Upon approaching the memorial monument he discovered that it belongs to Bro. William Worthington Higgins (1867-1941) and his spouse. As per the emblems on the stone markers and on the obelisk, Bro. Higgins was a 32º Scottish Rite mason while his wife was a member of the Eastern Star. Upon further research, it appears however that Higgins Road (IL Route 72) was not named after him but after an early settler by the name of F. Higgins according to local historians.
