More than two years after it was taken over by the state, a cemetery in Davenport will host a celebration. On Tuesday a ribbon cutting will be held for a new maintenance building at Fairmount Cemetery.
Superintendent Carvel Morgan says Fairmount went into receivership in 2017 due to management and financial problems. And since then, the state, city, and the Pine Hill Cemetery where he's also the superintendent, have worked together.
"It's primarily for the maintenance building, but it's also to show the community we're dedicated to moving forward with Fairmount and making progress one step at a time."
Morgan says Fairmount has about 100 acres and 20,000 burials, but there's room for many more. It first opened in 1881, and when a crematory opened in 1890, it was the first in Iowa.
It's located on Rockingham Road in southwest Davenport.
Cemeteries in Iowa are regulated by the state Insurance Division.
