From 1886 to 1945, during the 59-year history of the State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children, over 300 children died while under state guardianship, and 198 were buried in this cemetery unclaimed by family. Some were buried under cover of darkness because of contagious disease, and few, if any, ever had a flower left on their grave. The average age at death was approximately four years old. Causes of death included diphtheria, measles, drowning, TB, cancrum oris, anemia, diarrhea, exhaustion, marasmus, accidents, and a ruptured appendix; one child was killed by an elk and another by a football injury. In the early years, tombstones were erected, but for unknown reasons the state discontinued this practice, and children were then buried with only their identification number etched on a cement slab. After the orphanage was phased out in 1945, the cemetery was all but forgotten, with weeds and grass growing tall and few people knowing or remembering it existed. In 1949, one child was buried there during the Owatonna State School era. In 1974, the City of Owatonna purchased the campus area and became responsible for maintaining the cemetery. In 1992, the Owatonna City Council approved plans for Gerald "Bud" Blekeberg to build a permanent memorial, and in 1993, with the help of many community volunteers and contributors, the memorial and 151 named crosses were erected for children who had been buried only by a number and were dedicated in a community observance on July 3, 1993. In 1994, Lutheran Brotherhood Branch #8034 erected the Guardian Angel. In 1995, the Owatonna City Council approved the burial of 83-year-old Fredrick Berndt, who had spent his entire childhood at the State Public School from 1912 to 1927 and whose most desired wish was to be buried among the children he so loved; Owatonna citizens provided him a Christian burial on November 1, 1995.