It has a dramatic nickname, and for good reason.

The Tamaqua cemetery called "The City of the Dead" contains more than double the population of the town."There are 16,122 recorded burials and about 102 undocumented," says Charles Bailey, secretary of Odd Fellows Cemetery, plus an unknown number buried prior to records being kept.In addition, more than 100 others rest in a large trunk buried on the cemetery's north side. It's a mass grave few people know exists."They were unclaimed bodies from when Primitive Methodist Church moved their own cemetery," Bailey says."All of the remains of the unclaimed were placed in a large trunk, buried here."Odd Fellows Cemetery was incorporated by Harmony Lodge on Jan. 4, 1864, one of only two Victorian garden park cemeteries of Schuylkill County, the other being the Baber in Pottsville.Verdant hillsides, panoramic views and tranquil avenues helped the burial site evolve into a lavish 1800s picnic destination. The Victorians enjoyed spending a Sunday afternoon among the tombstones, and Odd Fellows became so popular that tickets were required to enter the premises.Key figuresMany leading residents from Tamaqua's and Schuylkill County's heyday, plus figures of national importance, rest among 37 acres. Their stories reflect some of the most remarkable events in American history.Among them is William Heath, who served with Gen. George Armstrong Custer and is viewed by many as a possible survivor of Custer's Last Stand.Also, Peter Zangher, a Revolutionary War veteran, rests on the hillside along with several key figures of the reputed Molly Maguires era.Simon JeffersonThe simple grave site of Simon Jefferson has no marker. But it should.He was a black man who set up shop as Tamaqua's first barber.Jefferson is reputed to have met John Wilkes Booth in Tamaqua in 1865, where he learned of plans for Lincoln's assassination and tried in vain to warn authorities. But nobody would believe him.Interestingly, Jefferson claimed to be a grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. Today it's generally agreed President Jefferson fathered children from slave Sally Hemings. Tamaqua's Simon Jefferson went to his grave telling people he was one of the offspring of those children.He died Aug. 26, 1886, after suffering a paralytic stroke.Ida VerretThe cemetery is the final resting place of Tamaqua native Ida Verret, who moved to Hartford, Connecticut, and met an unimaginable fate.Verret died tragically on July 6, 1944, during one of the most heart-wrenching circus tragedies in U.S. history.She had taken her young son and daughter to see Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus in what was planned to be a delightful family outing.However, to everyone's shock, flames began shooting from the canvas of the big top.Within moments, the tent was fully engulfed and collapsed on the crowd, burning to death 169 members of the audience in a horrible inferno. Most were children. One of the grownups who perished was Verret. Her body was sent home to Tamaqua for burial.The horror shocked the nation and launched a series of laws governing circuses and mandating fireproof tents.The heartbreaking tragedy is known as "The day the clowns cried."The Rev. Amos WhetstoneAnother notable burial at Odd Fellows is the Rev. Amos Whetstone.Whetstone was one of only two civilians to receive fatal wounds in 1863 during the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.He survived for years, but eventually died from his wounds on March 28, 1894, at the age of 58. His portrait hangs in the Gettysburg Museum.Caretaker Bailey has monitored the cemetery for the past 30 years.He says the treasure trove of history is in dire need of support from the community. Historic monuments need cleaning and freshening, and the cemetery could benefit from volunteers willing to lend a hand.The burial ground is so large that one single grass cut costs $2,100, and must be done seven times a year.Even some simple chores would help the cemetery shine, says Bailey."We haven't had the Soldiers Circle Monument lit by spotlight in more than two years," he says. "The ballast is shot."Some believe Odd Fellows Cemetery has the potential to be the town's number one tourist attraction. But to make it happen, local residents need to care.Anyone interested in lending a hand is asked to call 570-668-2070.