"Odd Fellows Making Preparations to Plat New Cemetery...Beautiful Habig Hill Site....on the pretty knob southeast of the City owned by Lodge will be made into Beautiful Cemetery as soon as possible" proclaimed the Daily Clarion headline on April 19, 1900

Recognizing that the existing IOOF Cemetery on North Main St,, still in existence today, was reaching capacity and the anticipated need to accommodate future public demand, the I.O.O.F. 

purchased the land from Paul Habig, Sr. and began planning right away.

Inquiries were sent out and the headline on May 22, 1900 confirmed that a contract had been let to James P. Sanders of Evansville.  The skillful engineer advised he intended to proceed at once and his belief was that this site could be made into one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the State.  Mr. Sanders was expected to arrive the following morning with his assistants to begin work immediately.

One year and a day later, on May 23, 1901, the headline heralds "Difficult Plat is at Last on Records - Diagram of Beautiful New Cemetery Recorded - Skillful Work by C.W. Benton".  Draftsman Benton was complimented on his skill and ability in completing this task which outlined 1,000 burial plots, numerous winding driveways and was noted as the most complicated record at the courthouse.  It was also noted that the new cemetery will occupy what was known as the Paul Habig farm and "in a few years, it will be the most beautiful resting place for the dead in southern Indiana".

In August 1901, members of the press were taken to the new Maple Hills, hosted by "Mr. L.L. Kerns to demonstrate the revelation to those who had not before visited the new burying grounds.  The new cemetery included two beautiful hills with gradual slopes and the lay of the land in every way admirably suited to the intended purpose.  Broad and winding avenues were already evident with the main avenue being named "Maple" while all others were named after trees.  Hundreds of newly planted shade trees line the avenues and within a few short years, will be giving forth shade and beauty to the grounds.

Mr. John Crayhill, cemetery superintendent, is performing all of the work himself and following the plans, he is utilizing the irregular nature of the avenues to install beautiful flower bedgs throughout the grounds including another beautiful garden at the crest of the hill.

Improvements are expected to cost $10,000 (the equivalent of $349,185 in 2022) and include plans for a lake covering more than 1/2 acre, a greenhouse, a tower on top of the tallest hill, commanding a view of the surrounding country for miles and an administration building to be erected at the cemetary entrance."

Although some of those plans may have not materialized, or those structures have long since come and gone, the frontpage of the Princeton Daily headlined that "Maple Hill Cemetery marked its 100th year as a final resting place" on April 24, 2000.  By this centennial anniversary, the article noted there were approximately 2,700 graves being cared for the 18 acres that make up the cemetery.  

It should be noted, in a unique turn of events, that the first person to be interred in the "new" cemetery on October 8, 1900 was none other than Paul Habig, who was born in 1836 in Germany.  The $3.50 fee for his lot was given as a donation by the IOOF as he was the original owner of the land.

Unfortunately, by the centennial anniversary, the beautiful cemetery that was once the pride and joy of so many, had fallen into disrepair and was in significant need of basic maintenance.  The cemetery was sold to private individuals and attempts were made to restore it to some of its previous glory.

In approximately 2009, family members of a loved one started maintaining an area near the front of the cemetery.  Their dedication and loving care provided hope and their efforts were noticed and appreciated.

 In late summer 2019, another small group of volunteers were organized by other family members to improve the appearance and condition of other areas of the cemetery, which signified a major shift in the love and care being devoted to the cemetery and it brings us to where we are today.