Page 22 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021 - Online Magazine

Local
History

LLANO CEMETERY

AMARILLO’S HISTORIC

FINAL RESTING PLACE

by Brian Wynne, Public Relations for Llano Cemetery Association

Humble Beginnings mausoleums were constructed,
and in 1927, the construction
Llano Cemetery Association was of the community mausoleum,
formally chartered 100 years known as the Pantheon, began.
ago on November 12, 1921. This,
however, was not the beginning of The Pantheon was designed by
our cemetery. In 1888, the Morrow Sidney Lovell Sr. of Chicago,
family was traveling west and passing Illinois. Sidney designed
through the town and patented
of Amarillo when the ventilation 1933, expansion was largely financed
their 24-year-old system that was used by two New Deal programs: The
daughter, Lillian in mausoleums back Reconstruction Finance Corporations
Morrow, died. in 1917. He was at the and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
At that time, they top of his field, and by These two programs helped the Llano
met with T.B. and the time he passed, he Cemetery push through the national
Hattie Clisbee, had designed over forty economic hardships of the time.
who offered them mausoleums in fifteen
a place on their different states. The The RFC and the CCC also helped
personal property Pantheon is constructed reduce unemployment in the area.
to give their out of Bedford stone and Within the first three days, 40
child a proper has had two additions individuals were employed. More
burial. Through added to its were added until the
the kindness of one family to another, structure since the initial total work force of
what we now know as the Llano construction began all the project came to a
Cemetery Association was started. those years ago. Some staggering 1,200 men.
of the most influential The RFC took care
As time went on, the upkeep of the people of the Amarillo of workers’ wages,
grounds became a labor of love for area are laid to rest within materials, and tools.
the community before it eventually these walls. The supervisors, large
became a formal, non-profit equipment, design
association. The first care givers of the During the 1930s, work, and more were
Llano grounds were members of the while battling all the donated by individuals
Amarillo Junior League. These ladies challenges of the Great from the Amarillo area.
cared for the graves and the gardens Depression, construction
for many years. and landscaping Buildings, such as the
continued. Amarillo’s administration offices,
Over The Years population had grown superintendent’s
to over 43,000, and more cottage, and the pump
As the cemetery grew, improvements developments for the house were added at
were made to the grounds. Family cemetery were needed. In that time. Margaret

22 Amarillo Senior Link