Back in the day cemeteries were a popular destination especially on Sundays and holidays. People, visited , fixed the graves and often made a day of it. It was a family affair. However some cemeteries in the Chicago area are quite large and getting to a cemetery lot was often difficult, especially if you were elderly or infirm.
Some cemeteries provided a cemetery motor bus service from the main gate to the burial lot. Other cemeteries offered a bus service connecting a streetcar or train stop with the entrance gate of the cemetery. And still others provided both.
from the December 1915 magazine called Park and cemetery and landscape gardening volumes 24 and 25
motor transportation in parks and cemeteries
in this issue are presented some facts and statistics about motor bus transportation in cemeteries. The conclusion cemetery man who contributed to this data seems to be that were city transportation does not furnish easy access to the cemetery, the cemetery must furnish it. In most large cities conditions of competition were practically forced the cemetery to do this. Where the cemetery is large it is also necessary that some conveyance furnished lot owners, either free or for a small fee. Statistics seem to agree that such a service cannot be made to pay for itself, must be regarded as a necessary expense.
One cemetery superintendent says of their service back in the day: “it enhances the value of the property that is not within the walking distance of the entrance.”
Another wrote also back in the day “I believe all large cemeteries should operate a conveyance for their patrons free of charge, especially for those far away from the entrance where one would have to walk a distance of ½ mile to a mile to get there lots.” Another superintendent puts the matter this way “all large cemeteries should have one to accommodate their patrons. While ours is not self-sustaining and is operating at a loss of about $30 a month, we consider it a good investment.”
From the superintendent at forest home cemetery in Chicago
“We operate a bus service throughout our grounds only covering ½ miles on the round-trip. The service is much used and was inaugurated because it enhances the value of property that is not within walking distance from the entrance. We carried about 16,600 passengers last year 1914. We charge five cents fair for the round-trip and operate two vehicles one of you a chassis with enclosed bus body carrying 11 passengers and a General Motors car with enclosed bus body ceding 16 passengers. Both are fully enclosed including the driver with front side entrance and rear entrance
They are built of a special witness for allowing passengers to get in and out and pass other passengers. The small bus has pneumatic tires, the larger one solid tires. The small bus cost $2000 in the larger one $2800. We had an electric bus first that was very expensive in comparison with gasoline vehicles which we now have. The buses do not pay for themselves directly but a great help in selling lots at a distance from the entrance and getting better prices for same. We have our own drivers who do other work when not driving. The smaller buses used mostly, the other one being used only when busy sections on holidays or Sundays. We run on a 20 minute schedule when running one bus in a 10 minute schedule when running both. Signed Fred Ewald superintendent Forest home Cemetery Chicago
Elmwood Cemetery
we operate a motor bus service through the grounds outside the grounds to connect local transportation. The length of hall within the grounds is one and 2/10 miles outside the grounds ½ mile. The service is used constantly, being run on regular half hour schedule, with extra help when found necessary. It was inaugurated to get better transportation in an effort to increase our business. We charge affair of five cents each way. Two vehicles are used only one is run constantly. One is a Buick 14 passenger and the other is a federal 18 passenger bus. Both cars are built with side seats, canopy top and side curtains for bad weather. The average expense of maintaining a bus is about $3.50 per day not including depreciation. Conditions are so different in the various cemeteries is a hard thing to say how they should be operated. We run on a regular schedule over a fixed route. With signs at various intervals lettered “auto bus stop, number one, number two,” etc. This is proven very fact jury to us Bellett Lawson jr supt Elmwood Cemetery Chicago Illinois
Mount Auburn Cemetery Berwyn Illinois
We operate a motor bus service outside the grounds only to connect local transportation. The length of the run is 1 mile. We have no direct connection was streetcar trains within 1 mile and therefore our auto service is very necessary and the only way for quick transportation. We carry from 20 to 200 passengers one way daily and Sunday. We charge affair of five cents round-trip using one bus, a Kenton motor truck “commerce” with Continental engine carrying capacity of 10 passengers vehicle cost $1400 and the cost of operation with shofar gasoline and oil is $2.75 per day. We do not operate the bus in the cemetery but if we were getting streetcar transportation direct we would not discontinue the running of an auto bus in the grounds. We are contemplating the purchase of a larger one in the near future signed George Schrade attendant Mount Auburn cemetery.
Mount Hope Cemetery
We operate a motor bus service outside the grounds to connect with local transportation a run of about half a mile the service is much used
the disadvantage of not being directly on a car line. We carry about 60,000 passengers a year. We do not charge fair. We use one vehicle every day and two on Sundays Saturdays and holidays and whenever needed. The cars are federals and carry 20 passengers each. Vehicle cost $2600 and the cost of an operating in 1914 was $2020.81 not including depreciation signed TH little secretary and general manager of Mount Hope Cemetery in Chicago
Rose Hill Cemetery
we operate a motor bus through the grounds a run of a little over three quarters of a mile. The service is used very liberally. About 20,000 passengers a year are carried. We charge affair of five cents each way and use one vehicle, a white car with a summer and winter body.
The winter one seating 12 people. The average expense of maintaining it is about $100 per month. My opinion is that all large cemeteries should have one to accommodate their patrons and while ours is not self-sustaining as it is operated in a loss of about $30 per month we considered a good investment
signed Thomas Wallis superintendent Rose Hill Cemetery Chicago
Chicago and Cook County Cemeteries 