The old Luverne Cemetery on the north end of Luverne was the favored place for Luverne residents, however, no additional burials were interred after the late 1800s due to the high water table. Maplewood became the favored location.

Thirty acres were purchased from the Jones family. They farmed this ground.

Maplewood Cemetery was formally established in 1886. There were burials for 10 years prior to the date Maplewood was formed. In the late 1800s a fundraiser was started and a sidewalk was put in from the city of Luverne to the Maplewood Cemetery.

Maplewood’s beautiful chapel was built in 1904-1905. It was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in the 1970s. The chapel was used for funerals and a vault in the basement was used to store remains during the winter for spring burial.

The old Luverne Cemetery was deeded to Maplewood Cemetery because it had fallen into disrepair and needed someone to keep it up. In the early 1900s and continuing for many years, attempts had been made to move all those buried in the Luverne Cemetery to Maplewood. After repeated attempts and trips to the state legislature, permission was granted. In 1995, a map was found showing the layout opening a door to accomplishing this move. Much research was done and many of those buried were identified. Maplewood Cemetery Association moved them to their current location and marked each individual with a memorial.

In 2000, an additional forty-five acres were purchased on the west side of the cemetery. With this addition, it will assure that the Maplewood Cemetery will be a viable entity for many years to come. Five acres of this purchase have been plotted and is currently in use.