01/20/2023
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PUBLIC STATEMENT OF THE HYDE CHAPEL AND HYDE CEMETERY
Iowa County and its engineers have developed plans to repair and improve County T to the north of Barneveld and south of Arena, a project long overdue and much needed. As residents of this area know, County T wraps its way through the beautiful hills and valleys to the south of Spring Green. The road was just a dirt horse carriage road when the Hyde Chapel was built in 1862 and the Cemetery was in use even before the Chapel was built. The Chapel has been known for years as "The Chapel On The Hill".
The County is planning to remove part of the hill almost up to the entryway of the Chapel in order to repair the road. As the representatives of both the Chapel and Cemetery, we have tried without success to get the County to consider a simple change that would not result in the destruction of this historic part of our area that is recognized federally on the National Register of Historic Places. This Chapel, like the Iowa County Courthouse and only a few other surviving buildings, is a classic example of the Greek Revival architecture used in the 1800's. The Chapel and the Cemetery are the surviving part of the legacy created by the settlers to the area and now remembered by the many families with relatives buried in the Cemetery.
For those who are familiar with the area, you know that County T runs on a relatively straight line north and south in front of the Chapel. The Chapel and Cemetery are to the east of County T and the State and DNR owns the land to the west of the road. We have proposed a very simple alternative to move the road about 12 to 15 feet into the flat, and vacant, State land. This slight alternation will avoid the destruction to the historical setting and burial site of the Hyde Chapel and Cemetery. The County has rejected this solution.
Here are some of the facts and concerns that we believe are important and call for the adjustment to be made:
The Chapel is one of only a small handful of buildings constructed in Iowa County in the 1800's in the Greek Revival architectural style. The Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the proposed new highway will destroy the natural look of the Chapel and will disturb the Cemetery land. It is a simple alternative to move the road a few feet to the west and onto the flat land.
The Chapel has been known as "The Chapel On The Hill" during its 162 years and the County proposes to bulldoze about one-half of the hill in front of the Chapel.
The land for the Chapel and the adjoining Cemetery has been cataloged by the State Historical Society from the center line of County T back to the East end of the Cemetery. By bulldozing about one-half of the hill as the County proposes, the County will be disturbing land specifically designated as a burial site by the State Historical Society.
Part of the land owned by the Chapel to the North along County T is the same type of wetland as the land across the road that is owned by the State and the DNR, yet the County proposes to destroy the Chapel's wetlands without the same type of analysis and consideration afforded the DNR and its land. Simply moving the re-constructed County T about 12' to 15' into the County's easement of the DNR land will have no more consequence to the DNR wetland and unknown species than the consequence to the Chapel's wetland.
Despite some comments on social media, the County's proposal will remove several feet of the hill and reduce the hill to more of a lawn. The change will greatly modify the rural and historic look of this Chapel. Interested persons should drive out to the Chapel and try to imagine the hill being gutted to within a few feet of the entryway to the Chapel. Under the County's plan, vehicles will soon be driving much more closely to the Chapel and Cemetery.
Can anyone imagine the settlers who constructed this rural Chapel back in 1862 deciding to put in curb and gutter to beautify the place? No, the historic nature and idyllic beauty of the Chapel is what those hard-working people created before they were buried for perpetuity in their chosen location.
The Chapel was built in 1862 when the road was barely a dirt path. The dirt road remained a Town Road for Rural Delivery until about 1965 when ownership of the road was transferred to Iowa County. Later, Iowa County paved the road in the 1980's but maintenance was minimal until the Federal money became available last year.
The decision to construct the highway so close to the Chapel runs contrary to the expectations of the many families whose loved ones are buried in the Cemetery. What once was a site of rural peace and tranquility is being forced to look like any building you would find in a city. Changing the very nature of the Chapel and Cemetery is a dishonor to the pioneers and relatives who designed, built and maintained the property in its original form for 162 years.
We believe that by simply taking advantage of 10-15' of the County's existing easement on the west side of the road, the reconstruction of County T in front of the Hyde Chapel and Cemetery would provide safe travel and maintain the priceless historic value of the property. We ask you to encourage the Iowa County Board and its President to use the existing property across from the Chapel rather than encroach upon the "Chapel on the Hill."
Respectfully,
Cindy Kuhrasch, President, Hyde Chapel Community Association
Brian Simmerts, President, Hyde Cemetery Association
