O'Fallon commissioners and families push to preserve Sage Chapel Cemetery, seek funding and volunteers

At a meeting of the O'Fallon Historic Preservation Commission, commissioners and residents pressed for continued efforts to preserve Sage Chapel Cemetery and to document veteran burials across O'Fallon, saying more volunteer help and funding are needed.

The commission heard a report from Commissioner Hunt, who said the cemetery subcommittee has recorded 177 veteran burials in O'Fallon and is seeking more information from families and local organizations. “Up until this point, we've, documented a 177 veteran burials in O'Fallon,” Commissioner Hunt said, listing Sage, Mount Zion, Assumption, Stony Point, Fort Zumwalt Park, Welker and Klausmeier among the cemeteries involved. He told the commission the subcommittee has relied on contacts including Dennis Murray, Justin Watkins, the Veterans Museum, Find a Grave and the St. Charles County Genealogical Society but that new leads have slowed.

Why it matters: Commissioners and family members said the sites preserve the history of enslaved people and early African American communities in the area and require continued maintenance and documentation to protect unmarked graves. Family members who spoke described long personal ties to Sage Chapel and urged the commission to keep pursuing official recognition and funding.

Speakers at the meeting described the historical significance of Sage Chapel Cemetery and requested broader community support. A family member reading on behalf of Mary Stevenson said Sage Chapel "holds deep, personal, and historical importance within our community" and urged preservation. Another commenter described the cemetery as "a place of rest" and noted the rebirth of interest following recent research and outreach.

The commission discussed outreach tools and funding. Commissioners and staff said a recent grant application that included family letters was not awarded, but the city's grant writer, Alexis, will continue to seek state funding; commissioners noted a Feb. 28 state grant deadline. The commission plans to use any future grant funds to produce printed brochures for schools and local venues that highlight historic sites and to involve students in research.

Commissioners also discussed practical steps to increase public engagement: holding a ceremony or marking identified graves with medallions, partnering with the VFW for a May cemetery cleanup, and collecting more family-contributed records. One commissioner suggested media coverage to draw attention to new markers or ceremonies.

Other community updates included a planned DAR marker event and the Wentzville Community Historical Society's upcoming trivia night; the commission said it will provide copies of the meeting's proclamation to families. Chair Rick closed the meeting by encouraging residents to share any historical information they have and by thanking volunteers and partner groups.

The commission did not take formal legislative action on preservation measures at this meeting; next steps are continued grant applications, a planned VFW-led cleanup in May, and ongoing collection of burial documentation.