Doon Pioneer
Tower Cemetery CC#5016
300 Lookout Lane, Kitchener,
Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
formerly BF East of Grand, Lot 12
Waterloo Township
Doon
Pioneer Tower is a National Historic site administered by Parks Canada, reached
from the Pioneer Tower Road, west from Highway 8 about one kilometre north
of Highway 401.
The tower was erected on an acre of land located on the old Betzner homestead,
chosen partly because of the existence there of the old graveyard. It was built
by the Waterloo County Pioneers' Memorial Association formed in 1923 as a
tribute to the early Mennonite settlers of the area. The monument is
constructed of field stones in a Swiss style to commemorate the Switzerland heritage
of many of these families.
In the address given by D. N. Panabaker, president of the Waterloo County
Pioneers' Memorial Association on the occasion of the dedication of the tower
in August of 1926, he stated:
"I
see no reason to doubt that in this graveyard the seven nameless graves
all marked out by limestone slabs are --- the graves of Indians who had
become friendly to the early settlers". Also he said "note --- the
discoloured marble headstone, but particularly the beautiful engraving which was
done by hand. It is the artistic work of Joseph Schoerg's son, the late Rev.
David Shirk who --- was probably one of the first children born to the families
which settled here" (1987)
