Hookmans'  Cemetery was/is   located just off 24 between Peru and Wabash. The cemetery sits on a hill.  Below the hill has become a major construction site.  In order to gain access to the cemetery now you have to enter the construction site parking area and walk up the hill. No idea if they are planning on moving this cemetery, making a new access road to it or simply leaving it up there forgotten.  We check for access to this area each time we travel that stretch of 24. As you can see in the pictures most of the stones are damaged and untended to.   The only visit here was during the day because of the restricted access to the area.

This picture was interesting to us because it was taken on a sunny day, no motion going on with the camera or the team members in the picture but while the damaged headstones in the picture are clear the people are not.  There is also what appears to be a shadow on Curtis' face.

Hookmans' (Tillett) Cemetery

March 4, 2007 These pictures were taken to show Hookmans with the new business located below and to the left of the hill the cemetery sits on.

This was taken from the Eastbound lane of 24 directly across from the site of Hookman's Cemetery.  The building on the left is an RV dealership.

Click on thumbnails to enlarge.

The sign identifying the area as the Peru Industrial Park Phase II. The only apparent access road to the cemetery is located behind this fence.

Taken from the bottom  of the hill this picture shows the top of a tombstone.

This appears to be a new sign in the cemetery itself.  When the ground is less mushy we plan to go back  and investigate further.

Updated April 27, 2007

Photos taken April 21, 2007 click on thumbnails to enlarge

Arrived at Hookman's Cemetery at 4:30 pm.   Nice sunny day.  The road to the cemetery is located behind the fence just off Lovers Lane Rd.  It is easy to drive up as long as the road is dry.  I wouldn't want to try it after a lot of rain.  The cemetery appears to have been neatened up with some of the broken stones stacked in an orderly fashion.  Plans for a night time investigation are in the works.

The road leading to the cemetery.

A new sign identifying the area as the Tillett Cemetery established July 17, 1897

There were several of these "stacks" of broken tombstones.

View from the hill looking up toward the cemetery.

The view from the edge of the cemetery of the new business below ans Highway 24 off to the left.

The remains of a mausoleum which no longer stands.

Another view of the cemetery.

The only posted No Trespassing signs are on the fence separating the business property from the cemetery.