Establishing a family burial plot is a meaningful and thoughtful way to create a place for future generations to be buried and pay tribute to their heritage. Using a galvanized steel family marker will ensure that it will last for many generations to come.

While contemplating the connection between galvanizing with zinc and life, it is incredible to realize that zinc is essential to life for every living thing. Zinc is critical to growth as it plays a role in cell division, breathing, digestion, reproduction, and cognition just to mention a few things.

With zinc also being a sustainable natural product, it is measured by using a life-cycle assessment. A 'cradle-to-grave' assessment considers impacts at each stage of a product's life-cycle. It is measured from the time natural resources are extracted from the ground and processed through each subsequent stage of manufacturing, transportation, product use, and disposal. When considering the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of hot-dip galvanized steel, it is a cradle-to-cradle product, as there is essentially no "grave" to the zinc or steel. This is ironic for this project, considering it is in a cemetery!

THE BARTONS - The Bartons have lived in Wisconsin for over 25 years, and most of the Barton children currently live in Wisconsin. Family genealogy work has found that a large number of ancestors and relatives have also lived in Wisconsin. With all of these things in mind, the Elder Bartons took the initiative, as part of their end-of-life planning, to create a special place for their family in Southern Wisconsin.

A search of local cemeteries, resulted in the establishing of the Barton Family Burial Plot in the Albion Prairie Cemetery, near Edgerton, Wisconsin, USA. In 2022, they purchased 14 gravesites in the Albion Prairie Cemetery. This is a well maintained, locally operated, cemetery in rural Wisconsin. The memorial will establish a marker for the Barton Family Plot in the newest section of the cemetery. It carries on the tradition of family burial plots and allows multiple generations of the family to be laid to rest together, fostering a sense of continuity and connection. The community impact will be great with an amazing marker like this to start off the new section of the cemetery!

The Albion Prairie Cemetery is rooted in the historical significance of the area, which was settled in the mid-1800s by immigrant families. The cemetery itself has a rich history, with many family plots dating back to the 1840’s. Originally, family plots of 8 gravesites were sold to families. Today, those plots are visible in the old part of the cemetery.

THE MARKER - Many of the old plots have a “tower” and many use an obelisk structure as the marker. After studying many graveyards, it was decided to use an obelisk for the Barton plot. The Bartons lived in the Washington DC area for many years and have always loved the Washington Memorial. To use it as a pattern was an easy decision, and flares were added to the design to provide grounding and style to the memorial. Exact angles were figured and used, and the curves were very complex to get accurate and make.

In choosing material, Richard wanted something that was “modern” but gave a nod to the existing historic monuments in the cemetery. Modern metal working has come a long way, with the application of technology to the fabrication of steel. Prairie Art Metal Owner - Rich Feddel was enlisted and accepted the task of constructing an 8-foot height, steel obelisk.

Cemetery rules and the trustee board are not in favor of rusty metal objects in the cemetery. Hot-dip galvanizing proved to be cost effective and requires almost no maintenance, which made it attractive to the Bartons. Painting or Powder-coating in the long term would not hold up to the extreme weather changes this area sees so galvanizing was integral for this project.

Richard has created a meaningful and lasting addition to the cemetery and the family!