Togus National Cemetery

Togus National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the town of Chelsea in Kennebec County, Maine. It encompasses 31.2 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 5,373 interments. It is closed to new interments.

History

Named for an Algonquian (Native American) word for "mineral water", the area the cemetery currently resides on was once a hotel and resort known as Togus Springs. The resort failed as a business due to the outbreak of the American Civil War, and its owner died shortly after. The federal government purchased the property for the sum of 50,000 dollars and established a veteran care facility there. The first veterans were admitted on November 10, 1866. The facility was expanded and eventually had the capacity for 3,000 veterans.

The cemetery itself is divided into two plots, the West Cemetery and the East Cemetery. The older West Cemetery was first established in 1865 and moved to its present location in 1867; it closed for interments in 1936. The East Cemetery was opened in 1936 to provide additional interment space. It was closed for interments in 1961.

Notable interments

*Private David John Scannell, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Boxer Rebellion.

See also

*United States Department of Veterans Affairs
*United States National Cemetery

External links

* [http://www.cem.va.gov/ National Cemetery Administration]
* [http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/togus.asp Togus National Cemetery]