Cenotaph - IOOF at Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound

I have written previously about the IOOF cenotaph located north of the Mausoleum in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound.

The plaque reads

In Loving Memory

Thomas Allen

George Arthur Ewens

Douglas Archibald Hay

Roy Brown McKenzie

Wesley Clarence McFaul

Charles Edgar Orford

Robert Pollock

Jonathan Rennie

James Thomson Robb

Gregor McKenzie Young

Members of 

Owen Sound Lodge no. 180

Home Lodge no. 441

Who gave their lives in the cause 

of Freedom in the Great War

1914-1918

Erected IOOF and Rebekahs

Cenotaph - IOOF

This tall cenotaph caught my eye one day while walking in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound. I went closer to see the names inscribed on the plaque.

Several names caught my eye as two were men who I had been researching for several years.

If you look at the photo of the whole monument. Click on the photo to enlarge it. There are three rings.  These are the symbols for the Independent Order of Oddfellows: Friendship, Love and Truth. The IOOF and the Rebekas erected this monument after the First World War.

Until, I was looking at the support material for one of the oral histories at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, I didn't know anything more about it. In 1977, Richard Neath was interviewed and one of the key subjects he talked about was the IOOF.

The support material was entitled "Lest We Forget". I haven't listened to the interview to know if the monument was talked about. After the end of the war, IOOF Lodges 180 and 441 formed a special committee to make recommendations for a suitable memorial.

Here I quote the article

. . . a square tapering monument, built with native field stone was decided upon. Volunteer help headed by Bro. Geo. Darby, P.G. dug the excavation for the case and other members spent afternoons and evenings gathering rocks and field stones which were hauled to the site on a truck donated by Bro. R. A. Breckenridge. Bro. C. H. Thompson was able to secure cement and the necessary aggregate for a nominal sum, to pour the base, which would require approximately 24 cubic yards of concrete. This was all done by members of the order and resulted in a lot of sore muscles and some blisters as machinery for mixing concrete in those days has long been outdated. The building of the monument was placed in [the] hands of a local stone mason by the name of Mr. Wm. Malcolm, who was without a doubt a master craftsman, especially with field stone. A recess was left on the West side of the monument to place a suitable bronze tablet on which the names of the members of the order who gave their lives during world war one was cast. [1]

Unfortunately, no date of dedication is given.

R. H. Neath, P. G., P.D. D. G. M., "Lest we Forget" in the supporting material for an oral interview conducted on March 15, 1977 for the Owen Sound Public Library conducted by Carol Anne Holder.

Cenotaphs - Donald E. Stiver (Markham)

Recently while reading Amy's Genealogy. etc. blog, I learned something I didn't know. She was writing about cenotaphs.

Question: When is a tombstone not a tombstone? Answer: When it’s a cenotaph. A cenotaph (literally “empty tomb”) is a memorial for someone who is not buried at that place, either because they are buried someplace else or the body could not be recovered. Sometimes the marker will give you a clue that it is a cenotaph rather than a tombstone.

I have always thought that a cenotaph had to be a military memorial. So thanks to Amy, I have have learned something new. I will be on the watch for examples of cenotaphs, not only those that are military memorials to remember a group of people who served their country, when visiting cemeteries.


The following would be a cenotaph to a young man who died in the service of his country -- P.O. Donald Ewart Stiver (4th cousin once removed).

This cenotaph is found in the Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery (southwest part of lot 17, Concession 6 in the Town of Markham, formerly the Township of Markham, York County, Ontario).
Shown above is the east side of the monument.
"This fragment is from Tegernsee, Bavaria, where P.O. Donald E. Stiver is buried in Durnbeck Cemetery. "
On the west side of the monument

"In loving memory of Winnifred E. Cassie
1901-1970
beloved wife of Ewart J. Stiver
1869-1979
their son
P.O. Donald E. Stiver
1923-1943"

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his date of death as 6/9/1943. [ September 6, 1943] He was a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force the 44th Squadron. He is buried in a Joint grave 2. J. 20-21.
Cemetery: = DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY
On Donald's death registration, his date of birth was given as July 4, 1923. He was presumed dead from air operations. I believe that he was last seen on September 6, 1943 as in a memorial service for George Coathup at Central United Church [Unionville] reported on July 29, 1944, Don Stiver was remembered in prayer as being missing. His name was also read in the Honour Roll of Bethesda Lutheran Church on August 20, 1944. "P.O Don Stiver, the only casualty on the roll, who was reported missing a year ago, was remembered."
Donald Ewart Stiver Ontario death registration #701154 (6 September 1943); digital image Ancestry.ca (www.ancestry.ca : accessed 23 December 2006), citing MS 994 reel 2, Archives of Ontario, Toronto
See a companion article about cenotaphs at Janet the Researcher.