Once again, I'm extending my gratitude to Gail Allen for her personal efforts that have led to returning Walnut Creek (Quaker) Cemetery to a much more respectful condition; one that it deserves, through her active participation at the clean up conducted at the cemetery on October 18, 2013.
First, I'd like to share just a bit of history between Gail and myself. We started down this path in late summer of this year when during the course of our many email exchanges, I inquired with Gail that, if possible, during one of her many Fayette County cemetery travels could she visit Walnut Creek Cemetery and take some photographs of it. In particular, of the older sections. Seeing recent photographs would mean so much to me since I live further away, and I am not able to visit the gravesites of my ancestors as often as I would like.
My request came as a result of the fact I had visited Walnut Creek Cemetery over the first weekend in August of this year and had found the property covered with tall weeds and grass that had grown up around many of the stones; even as high as some of the monuments themselves. I knew immedately from this evidence that more neglect of the cemetery had deteriorated it to its worst than I had ever seen before in visits from previous years. When I saw the cemetery gate itself surrounded by plant life overgrowth, the sight signaled to me what I would see beyond it; and unfortunately that was the case.
I have Limes and Doster family buried at this early Quaker cemetery on Limes Road. William Limes, my great-great-great uncle, was a War of 1812 veteran who was buried at Walnut Creek Cemetery. Thanks to Leonard Limes (now deceased) a new flat granite grave marker designating his war service was installed for William Limes with a new veteran flag holder in 1997.
Moving forward, I can't think of a better way to tell Gail's story and her involvement with Walnut Creek Cemetery than through her own blog post from her blog: "Notes from Gail" where she describes her own experiences during the October 18, 2013 clean up project at Walnut Creek Cemetery and all of the events that led up to it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, Gail, also on behalf of all of those interred at Walnut Creek (Quaker) Cemetery!
Clicking on this post's title will also take you to Gail's "Clean Up Cemetery Done" story!
