Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio
Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio
"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Friday, August 28, 2020
Spotlighting this story: "Local students honor Civil War veteran more than a century after his death."
Sharing this feature story by Lissa Guyton of 13Action News in Toledo, Ohio published on August 26, 2020. From it, we learn how the local Bowsher High School students achieved a cherish goal to restore dignity and honor to a long forgotten Civil War veteran.
During his lifetime, this veteran's identity became more associated with a number assigned to him rather than his own name. The same held true in death.
Only a lonely looking brick size stone imprinted with his patient number had marked his gravesite - until now.
The Civil War veteran was Private Joseph Withers, a patient at the Toledo State Hospital who resided there at the time of his death in 1919.
He was buried at the Toledo State Hospital Cemetery.
***
Excerpt:
“I have been taught that a person dies twice. The first time is their physical death. The second is the last time someone says their name. Today, we are saying Joseph’s name again,” said Robyn Hage, supervisor of the Leading Rebels program. “I have truly enjoyed watching the students get excited about this project. It was a lot of work to raise that money. A lot of them want to be activists in the community, so this was a great way to get involved. For me this is very personal because it connects our past to our future.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
REMINDER: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.- Jonathan Appell workshop at the Old Fredericktown Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio
"Preservation Workshop This weekend in Fredericktown"
Mount Vernon News - August 26, 2020
By Rosie Cosens
"FREDERICKTOWN – The Old Fredericktown Cemetery Preservation Project (OFCPP) will host Jon Appell, founder of the National Gravestone Preservation Tour, on Saturday, Aug. 29.
“My four-times-great-grandparents are buried in the cemetery,” Krista Horrocks, a professional archaeologist and cemetery researcher with OFCPP, said. “Jon [Appell] asked if he could do his Ohio workshop in Fredericktown, so I helped make the arrangements. I was a co-founder of the Old Fredericktown Cemetery Preservation Project back in 2017.”
Horrocks, a Fredericktown native, coordinates the preservation efforts with the village, which owns the cemetery. More than 60 people have shown interest in Saturday’s restoration event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Old Fredericktown Cemetery. The cemetery is located at the intersection of Burgett Drive and Oak Street in Fredericktown.
“Yes, everyone is a volunteer,” Horrocks said. “A lot of our volunteers have ancestors buried in the cemetery. Yes, we have trained with a local preservationist to follow correct methods of restoration.”
But Horrocks also encourages anyone with an interest in history or preserving antiquities, or who just wants a day out in the fresh air, to stop by; because large numbers of hands are welcome.
“We’ll take anyone who is interested in helping!” she said. “And Jon is teaching a workshop every place he goes, so everyone who joins will get training!” "
Jonathan Appell's Business on Facebook:
Tim Foor's Business on Facebook:
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Spotlighting the Lakeside Cemetery in Bay Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Sharing random photos taken at the Lakeside Cemetery in Bay Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on August 20, 2020
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Lakeside Cemetery in Bay Village is a treat to stroll through at one's own pace.
A visitor can quickly become immersed in its unique history by reading the inscriptions of markers, monuments, and veterans' plaques.
The Ohio Historical Marker reveals significant details about some of the notable pioneer settlers who lived in the area and who found peace and rest on this sacred land.
A visitor should pick a nice warm and sunny day to stroll through the cemetery, and all the while enjoy the breezes provided by Lake Erie! The view is stunning no matter what is going on out on the lake. But, don't let it distract you during your time at the Lakeside Cemetery!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Of serious concern, however, is shoreline erosion that is endangering this fragile pioneer burial ground. The following article explains.:
The September 25, 2018 story in "WestLife" by Jeff Gallatin.:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To learn more about the Lakeside Cemetery before your visit, you can purchase the definitive book published about it.:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Retracing Footsteps: This History of Lakeside Cemetery"
********"This book of nearly 400 pages, containing more than 350 photographs, is a fascinating compilation of family notes, newspaper articles, letters, historical sketches, recipes, vital records, two autobiographies and much more. Ten years of research went into uncovering information about more than 270 individuals who are associated with the Lakeside Cemetery.
Established in 1814, the cemetery was the first burial ground in Dover Township which now encompasses Bay Village, Westlake and the northern section of North Olmsted. Most burials occurred from 1814 into the mid 1900s. The individuals buried in the cemetery lived in areas from Cleveland to Lorain. Even those unfamiliar with Lakeview Cemetery will find this unparalleled resource an interesting and educational portrayal of life over the last two centuries in northern Ohio."Call (216) 386-5997 for more information."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:Unknown Soldier on Find A GraveFrom the Westlake Bay Observer"Bay Village's Unknown Soldier: Sill Unknown But Not Forgotten"May 21, 2019By Kay Laughlin ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Benjamin Stevens marker
Benjamin Stevens marker
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Marker for T. Richard and Elizabeth R. Martin
Marker for T. Richard and Elizabeth R. Martin
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Below:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Government issued marker
Government issued marker
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Marker for True Ellis Read
Marker for True Ellis Read
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Monument for Samuel Foster Osborn
and, His Wife,
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Below 3 photos:
The William Waterman Aldrich
The William Waterman Aldrich
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Christopher Saddler
and His Wife,
Sophia Ortiz Saddler ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
and His Wife,
Sophia Ortiz Saddler ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Frederick, and His Wife
Frederick, and His Wife
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Left: Isaac Rowell white marker
Left: Isaac Rowell white marker
Right: Jerusha Rowell white marker
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Above:
Michael Wolf monument
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of the Lakeside Cemetery in Bay Village.
It is a smaller size cemetery that holds a commanding presence in this western suburb of Cleveland. It deserves to be preserved and protected from any and all elements that might cause it irreparable harm.
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Saturday, August 15, 2020
How about adopting a "Adopt a (you fill in the blank) grave marker Project to save original gravestones, replace those that can't be saved, and in the process save a whole cemetery? It can work!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We are often asked how we can go about getting a cemetery restored/preserved? A simple answer is one grave marker at a time. So, this is one approach to accomplish that worthwhile goal with the "Adopt a (you fill in the blank) Project. It could be for a veteran or anyone's grave marker.
"The Project" could be to restore and/or replace one marker, or monument, or several.
It could also be for a stone wall ,or a wrought iron fence, or railing. It could be for stone steps. It could be for a chapel. It could be for a mausoleum. It could be for a receiving vault.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The possibilities for preservation are almost endless.
Your Project can start small and "go big" later!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A cemetery by definition is a living breathing landscape with sacred grounds having special needs that go beyond those of garden or park landscapes. The needs include how important it is to retain respectfulness for those who came before us and their final resting places.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Initially, this type of a project might require a "Friends of (you fill in the blank) Cemetery" or even a Cemetery Preservation Society that operates as a non-profit.
Seeking and enlisting participation from like-minded people to help coordinate each step along the way and divide up the duties among the members lightens the load on individuals.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This type of a program can help to preserve original gravestones and literally rescue them from toppling over and breaking or sinking out of sight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We have noted that most of the time it is much more economical and practical to preserve and protect an original grave marker than replacing it with a new one. That includes seeking out professionals, or well trained volunteers with proper equipment who will conduct the work in a "Do No Harm" manner.
Most likely, a new granite marker will lack the true essence of the time period during which the deceased person lived. A replacement most likely won't be as ornately carved as the original that had stood at the gravesite for decades.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Preserving an original grave marker also preserves the artistic creation of the carver chosen by the family of the deceased who knew and cared about their loved one. The descendants could have carried out the wishes of the dearly departed for what they would want for a permanent marker to stand at their gravesite.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Granted, not all grave markers can be saved, but assessing those that can be saved is a good first step before moving forward in the preservation process.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Turning local apathy into local pride that stems from local participation for the cause of preservation can, and often does, take time.
Patience is paramount during the process, but the final results can be so rewarding!
So, think about this approach and consider adopting a "Adopt a (you fill in the blank) Project" for the benefit of your cemetery of concern.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)