Sunday, June 30, 2019

Mr. Accordion, Roy Bertelli

By Ruth A. Ringelstetter

In 2015, Joann and I planned our photography trip so we could end up in Springfield, Illinois, to witness the Lincoln funeral reenactment. After the final ceremony at the cemetery, we waited for crowds to clear and then returned to the cemetery for a few more photographs.


Just as we entered the cemetery through the front gates, we saw that Lincoln’s horse-drawn hearse had been loaded onto a truck and was being transported out of the cemetery. We pulled over and waited as it made its way out through the gates.


Then, in front of us, at a fork in the road, we saw a burial spot with the gravestone of Roy Bertelli, “Mr Accordion.”


Roy loved the accordion and had over 5000 arrangements for the accordion and organ to his name. He also performed many times with Lawrence Welk, famous American musician, accordionist, and bandleader. Since Roy was a Springfield, Illinois resident, he was very familiar with Oak Ridge Cemetery.


He admired the cemetery but had long thought that all plots had been sold and there was no chance of getting a plot there. But one day he decided to stop in and ask. To his surprise, he was told there was one plot available. It was near the entrance and was within sight of Lincoln’s tomb. He purchased the plot on the spot.


A couple of weeks later, he received a letter from the cemetery, stating that the plot had been sold to him in error. That was followed up with a letter from the cemetery’s lawyer demanding that the plot be returned.


Roy fought for his plot and won. To spite the cemetery, he built a crypt above ground with a large tablet behind it with his name, an engraved accordion, and the words “Mr. Accordion”.

It is said that, periodically, he would visit the cemetery, climb onto his crypt, and play his accordion to the horror of the cemetery officials and the amusement of cemetery visitors. The music could be heard by visitors waiting to tour Lincoln’s tomb.


Roy died in 2003 at the age of 92. Rumor has it that he had himself buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery because he was a World War II veteran, and had his accordions buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery to spite the officials who did not want him there.

I’m not sure that’s true, since I do find his burial record for Oak Ridge Cemetery on Find a Grave and no listing for him at Camp Butler National Cemetery.


Either way, it’s an interesting story, and if you make your way to Springfield to visit Lincoln’s tomb, make a stop at Roy’s grave near the main entrance. I’m sure he would appreciate it.


Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth

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7 comments:

  1. Well that's a fun story, Ruth!

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    1. Yes, it was fun to stumble on this unique grave and then to learn the full story later.

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  2. Ha! That's quite a tale! Mr. Bertelli stood his ground (or plot). Good for him! Thanks for passing along the history of a little-known figure in Springfield's story. Your blog is always a good read with great photos!

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    1. Thanks, Jean. You make me laugh! And thanks for the compliment. We work very hard to have engaging photos and text.

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  3. Ruth, thank you for the story. You made my day. When we lived in Springfield in the Early 70's I would visit the Lincoln Stuff including the Oak Ridge Cemetery. If I ever make it down that way again, I will have to stop at Oak Ridge and look for Mr. Bertelli's Tomb. :D

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    1. Stephanie, if you enter the cemetery's main gate at 1441 Monument Ave, at the point where the road forks and you can see Lincoln's tomb in the distance, Mr. Bertelli's grave is right at the fork. You can't miss it. You can even see it on Google Maps because the Google car drove all the roads in the cemetery. :-)

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