The cement marker was placed in a mausoleum Thursday. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Is it a property marker, or maybe a temporary grave marker? That’s the question Washington City staff is trying to answer after crews discovered a cement marker about three feet tall with a metal plaque on the top while excavating part of Sitler Drive. The plaque reads “Hugh Smith and family” and their mausoleum is in Elm Grove Cemetery.

Keith Henkel with the city explained after it was found they determined it wasn’t a burial site and began looking into the history of Hugh Smith, a successful business man locally. According to his obituary, Smith was born in Ireland in 1814, came to the U.S. in 1831 and moved to Washington in 1855. He passed away March 31, 1891. He was married to Catharine and they had five children.

The newly discovered marker was placed in the family’s mausoleum Thursday morning. City staff is still trying to determine exactly what it was and where it came from.

Photos by Sally Y. Hart