Blue Island in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Blue Island Cemetery

1850-1898

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 31, 2025

1. Blue Island Cemetery Marker

Inscription. In the early days of Blue Island's history, the need for a public burial ground was evident. The Blue Island Cemetery Association organized and managed this plot of land as a cemetery until 1898, when the city passed an ordinance prohibiting burial within city limits. The land sat abandoned until 1922 when a group of citizens organized the Memorial Park Association whose sole purpose was to create a public park from the old cemetery. In April 1928, this was accomplished when the land was turned over to the Blue Island Park District, which began to develop it in 1935 through the Works Progress Administration. Some graves were moved to other local cemeteries, but many remained. This monument is dedicated to all the unknown Blue Island Pioneers who make this ground their final resting place.
We honor their memory

Erected 2006 by Blue Island Park District.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 41° 39.727′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

87° 41.272′ W. Marker is on Blue Island, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Highland Avenue south of 127th Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12804 Highland Avenue, Blue Island IL 60406, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U.S. 4.7 Inch Studebaker Field Gun Model 1906 (within shouting distance of this marker); Blue Island Vietnam Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blue Island Korean War Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); Blue Island Memorial Roll (about 400 feet away); In Honor and Remembrance of America's Women (about 400 feet away); Grand Army of the Republic (about 400 feet away); Spanish-American War Memorial (about 400 feet away); A-7D Corsair II (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Island.

More about this marker. The sign at the northeast corner of Memorial Park calls this cemetery Old Blue Island Cemetery, as do several other online sources. The historical marker is in front of the fenced in gravesite for at least three members of the Sorgenfrei family, who died in the 1800s.

Also see . . .
1. Find a Grave: Old Blue Island Cemetery. (Submitted on June 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Blue Island Park District (Facebook)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 31, 2025

2. Blue Island Cemetery Marker

. (Submitted on June 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 31, 2025

3. Blue Island Cemetery Marker

The park's northeast entry gate at 127th St. and Highland Ave. can be seen on the right side.

Northeast entrance into Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 31, 2025

4. Northeast entrance into Memorial Park

The historical marker is to the left.

Clarissa McClintock gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 31, 2025

5. Clarissa McClintock gravesite

Just to the left of Memorial Park's northeast gateway is the grave of Clarissa McClintock, who served as a U.S. Army nurse during the Civil War. She appears as Clara McClintock in the 1860 census, living in Blue Island. A listing for her on Ancestry.com said she was born in 1842 and died on March 15, 1867, but that date, or any other details of her death, could not be confirmed by any contemporary source. The small plaque at the bottom of the photo was dedicated to McClintock by the Daugthers of the American Revolution.

The DAR marker bears the inscription “REAL DAUGHTER” along with the DAR Golden Wheel emblem.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.