Preserving Historic Cemeteries in Houston, Texas (playlist)

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The Pioneer Cemetery in Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio is Forgotten No More.

Click on title to read about how Rhonda and Rich Wade of Port Jefferson, Ohio are tackling the task of piecing together gravestones that have long been broken and forgotten; except by the Wades of course who are moving full steam ahead with their restoration project.  

They have been digging up stones as well as making sense of what is left of pieces of gravestones that were heaped in piles on the burial ground.  The Wade couple also have enlisted the help of others including local Boy Scouts.

This story is from "The Press-News" in Stark County, Ohio that was originally published in the "The Sidney Daily News" - Published: August 25, 2012 6:43PM.  This very well written account was penned by Melanie Speicher.

Currently, "Find A Grave" has 76 burials at the Pioneer Cemetery in Port Jefferson, Ohio.  There are 3 photo requests for gravestone photos for the following people buried at the Pioneer Cemetery:  

David Gerard, Florence Gerard, and Stephen Dye.  I encourage area "Find A Grave" photo volunteers to visit the Pioneer Cemetery as those grave markers may now be visible. 

I think the scope of the story and the accompanying picture showing Mr. Wade bending down and trying to match up pieces of stones in order to re-create each one as it once was, will certainly inspire many of us to maintain patience and perseverance no matter how daunting a cemetery restoration project may appear.  Making strides one step at a time and one tombstone piece at a time to ensure history will not be lost is one approach that works! 

Neil Alden Armstrong (1930 - 2012) - Find A Grave Memorial

Neil Alden Armstrong (1930 - 2012) - Find A Grave Memorial

Focusing on the Firelands Bicentennial Chapter of the Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution (OHSSAR) -- Grave Records for Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Erie, Huron and Lorain Counties, Ohio

Recently, I enjoyed a pleasant email exchange with Boyd Weber who is the President of the Firelands Bicentennial Chapter of the Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution (OHSSAR).  

The Firelands Bicentennial Chapter covers the counties of Erie, Huron, and Lorain.

The Chapter's website includes links to "Virtual Cemeteries" created by Boyd that exist on "Find A Grave" for Revolutionary War Veterans interred at various cemeteries located in Erie, Huron, and Lorain Counties.  

There are other useful links offered by the chapter so I think you'll enjoy your visit on their website.  You may also wish to explore the possibility of becoming a member if you feel you might qualify!

Vandals Arrested for Thefts at Wauseon's Union Cemetery - Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio

Click on title to link to a story from the website of "Toledonewsnow.com" and TV station WTOL 11 in Toledo, by Bridget Kennedy and Megan Sanctorum which was posted on August 20, 2012.  

It tells of the arrest of two men who stole flag holders and medallions at Wauseon's Union Cemetery.  Estimates to replace the stolen property currently stand at $2,500.00.  The investigation is ongoing and more people could also be charged according to the investigation.  

There is also an accompanying video to watch with this story.

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Presently, there are 5,663 interments listed at the Wauseon Union Cemetery on "Find A Grave."

Featuring Laura M. Bunce Ebersole buried at the Union Cemetery in West Independence, Hancock County, Ohio

Talk about serendipity!  Recently, I had been thinking about the grand Ebersole Family white bronze marker that I first saw a few years ago on a short unplanned stop to the Union Cemetery located on Route U. S. 224 in West Independence, just east of Findlay, in Hancock County Ohio which I couldn't help but notice while driving past it enroute to an antique mall in Findlay.

I was going back to the same antique mall a couple of weeks ago and wanted to return to visit the Union Cemetery again, where I hoped to take more photographs of the towering Ebersole obelisk style white bronze monument.  But, alas, that did not happen due to road closures on Route U.S. 224 just to the east of it which forced me to turn onto a detour quite far away from the Union Cemetery.  

But, my little story doesn't end here because today I received a note from a kind "Find A Grave" contributor:  "rakjr" providing me Laura Ebersole's maiden name and a link to her mother,  Nancy Bunce, and also a link to Oscar Ebersole, Laura's husband.  All were buried at the same site. 

Photographs of their inscriptions on 3 sides of the monument were taken and posted on all of their "Find A Grave" memorials.  

***Thank you "RAKJR" and thank you "Find A Grave."***

Time and again, "Find A Grave" has been instrumental in helping me not only find graves, which is the core of its mission statement, but it has helped to restore my faith in humanity -- a rather tall order to accomplish these days given some of the totally negative events going on in our world; but overall "Find A Grave" contributors are among the most dedicated and persevering people around; and their continuing contributions attest to that fact.  

So, I hope you enjoy viewing the Ebersole Family Stone at the Union Cemetery in West Independence, Hancock County, Ohio.  

 

Currently, the Union Cemetery in West Independence, Hancock County, Ohio has 470 burials listed for it on "Find A Grave." 

Featuring the "Translation" Sub-Topic on "Find A Grave's" Discussion Forums

"Find A Grave" is a fantastic resource for finding graves of course, but we may sometimes overlook how valuable it is for exploring so much more that can be helpful to us. 

Click on the title here to link to "Find A Grave's" Sub-Topic of "Translation" -- a forum for translation help located in the "Find A Grave Discussion Forums." 

The "Discussion Forums" in "Find A Grave" offer almost an unlimited number of ways for "Find A Grave" contributors to seek help and publicly post pertinent information to share with others within a multitude of categories.  

I encourage anyone who has been using "Find A Grave' and has not yet at least 'dabbled' in its discussion forums to take some time to do so.  

The "Translation" sub-topic can be found under "Cemetery and Genealogy Research" with the one-line description: 

"For the Serious Folks." 

I think that aptly applies!

Stepping Outside of Ohio to Spotlight "Healing Stuart" -- A blog about the Plight of Stuart Cemetery in Polk County, Iowa

This blog post is to spotlight a beautiful heartfelt blog that is dedicated to bringing to light the deteriorating condition of the small Stuart Cemetery located in Polk County, Iowa. 

The Blog:  "Healing Stuart" was created by Bonita Davis who just happened to 'stumble upon' Stuart Cemetery because of photo requests that were submitted on Find A Grave for the cemetery.  One thing led to another and she developed a 'kinship' with the cemetery because of its deteriorating condition. 

Currently, there are 231 burials at the Stuart Cemetery listed on "Find A Grave."

Also, Iowagravestones.org is another source for gravestone photographs in the state of Iowa, just like Ohiogravestones.org is for Ohio.  

Currently, the Stuart Cemetery in Polk County, Iowa has 107 approved gravestone photographs posted on the Iowagravestones.org website.  

It is because of concerned people like Bonita, that smaller, almost forgotten cemeteries like the Stuart Cemetery, are given a second chance.  In turn, others learn about them and begin to take an interest which leads to steps taken that make a positive difference for the long-term future of the gravesites and the cemetery property.  

It is through improvements made by concerned individuals and groups working to preserve these almost forgotten gravesites and cemeteries that a secure future is assured to pass down so future generations will be able to one day visit and pay their respects in an enviornment that shows someone cares.

Spotlighting Wesleyan Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio

The "Ohio Civil War 150" blog published a story on August 2, 2012  (by By jodiem) about the Wesleyan Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio entitled:  "Wesleyan Cemetery: Forgotten Cincinnati Gem."  

The cemetery is Hamilton County's oldest operating cemetery.  I think you'll enjoy reading this story which covers the history of the Wesleyan Cemetery and the current restoration work that is being done to improve it.

Currently, "Find A Grave" lists 7,697 interments at the Wesleyan Cemetery.  

Announcing a Cemetery Walk at the Bedford Cemetery - Bedford, Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Sunday, September 30, 2012

In the September - November, 2012 issue of "The Bedford Bee" published by the Bedford Historical Society is news of an upcoming walking tour at the historic Bedford Cemetery in Bedford, Ohio.  

It is entitled:  "A Walk with the Past." It will be a guided tour from 1:00PM to 2:00PM on Sunday, September 30, 2012.  

To sign up for the tour, please call the Bedford Museum at:  440-232-0796.

Currently, "Find A Grave" lists 2,359 interments at the Bedford Cemetery. 

Announcing a Meeting on September 20, 2012 - 7PM - about the Troutwine Cemetery, Dodson Township, Highland County, Ohio

The current issue of "Roots & Shoots Quarterly" (Volume 34, No. 3 - Fall 2012 - page 10) - published by the Southern Ohio Genealogial Society (chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society), announces their upcoming Fall programs.  

For September 20, 2012:

"Troutwine Cemetery, Dodson Township, Highland County.  Howard Kelley has done extensive research on this cemetery and the families buried therein.  He will be presenting a most spell binding presentation." 

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S.O.G.S. meetings are held at the Highland County Service Center, 1487 N. High Street (the old K-Mart building) in Hillsboro, Ohio.  Program time is 7:00p.m.

Currently, the Troutwine Cemetery on "Find A Grave" lists 135 interments, with 7 photo requests 

"Headstone Cleaning Project Description" from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Click on title to read a report from the website of the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or click on the department name here) regarding a headstone cleaning project that began in 2004 at five VA cemeteries.  

It is interesting to read the results of the headstone cleaning project which includes an update report completed in January of 2010.  

I encourage anyone who is embarking on cleaning headstones to please read as much as you can from reliable internet sources to ensure you are not doing more harm than good to a marker, monument or any gravestone.

Listed below are, in my opinion, among the most respected resources for information on the subject of gravestone preservation:  

The Association for Gravestone Studies

"Jonathan Appell - Monuments Conservator"

Also, from Mr. Jonathan Appell:

"Gravestone Preservation"

"Contact Us"

"This site is owned and operated by:
Jonathan Appell
tel: (860) 558-2785"
info@GravestonePreservation.info