Even though the village of Gates is quieter than in past years, the cemetery is the resting place for one of the most famous photographers in Nebraska – Solomon Butcher. The Gates Cemetery Board recognizes the historical importance of their cemetery, “a perpetual record of yesterday”, if you will.
The Gates Cemetery Board was excited to apply for a grant from the Custer County Foundation to add brick columns to make both entrances look uniform. Two, 4 ½ foot brick columns have been erected on either side of the second entrance, which allows visitors to enter, or exit after visiting any of the 600+ graves. The Gates Cemetery Board applied during the Spring 2023 grant cycle, however, the work was completed in May 2024.
During the Spring 2023 grant cycle, the CCF awarded $64,910 to 22 Custer County Organizations. The Custer County Foundation has granted a total of $1,146,957 to various projects around Custer County.