Highland Lawn Cemetery is a city-owned cemetery in Terre Haute, Indiana. Opened in 1884, the cemetery includes 139acre.The cemetery features a Richardsonian Romanesque chapel built by architect Jesse A. Vrydaugh in 1893 for a cost of $10,000. In the 1980s, the chapel underwent renovation which was completed in March 1988. Highland Lawn also includes a bell tower built by the Heidenreich Company in 1894, a gateway arch completed by Edward Hazledine and a Colonial rest house designed by W.H. Floyd.Famous interments include political figure Eugene V. Debs, author Max Ehrmann, and actress Valeska Suratt.Highland Lawn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 for its significance in agriculture and landscaping.FolkloreThe cemetery is known in local folklore including the story of Stiffy Green, a taxidermied dog buried in his owner's tomb who was said to bark periodically, and of Martin Sheets, who was convinced he would be buried alive and thus installed a telephone inside of his tomb with a direct line to the cemetery's main office.
