Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year! - Sharing news of SB 59 Ohio Veterans' Heritage Protection Act now headed to the desk of the governor for his signature

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year - 2022!  Thanking everyone for stopping by and for your support!  

May the new year be one filled with many accomplishments benefitting Ohio's cemeteries! 

We will continue to explore almost forgotten gravesites - almost meaning not forgotten by those who care and seek to preserve and protect them.  Choosing the proper methods and applications that will sustain them for many years to come.

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This brings me to sharing an update to Ohio Senate Bill 59: 

"To amend sections 149.30 and 155.99 and to enact section 155.28 of the Revised Code to prohibit certain war relics located on public property or cemetery association property from being disposed of, and to designate this act as the Ohio Veterans' Heritage Protection Act." The effective date is March 23, 2022.  

 

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We look forward to the Ohio state legislators moving to introduce and pass further protective legislation so no cemetery in Ohio is abandoned and left without a legal owner who properly cares for and maintains it.

  Reviewing and strengthening any outdated Ohio Revised Codes so no Ohio cemetery faces becoming a victim of crimes committed against it by an unfit owner is overdue to be accomplished. 

And,

Finally, as many of us know, it is well past time for Inactive / Abandoned / Family Cemeteries to have the sorely needed legal protective measures put in place for them -- the same laws afforded to Active Cemeteries.  These are Ohio's most vulnerable cemeteries that deserve our best care and respect regardless of their age or status.

These are just some of the improvements we petition for in our prayers to happen for Ohio's cemeteries in 2022.  

We know the process begins with us!

We can motivate Ohio lawmakers to take a long serious look at those Ohio Revised Codes and understand that many simply are not strong enough to protect our state's cemeteries where our ancestors, close relatives, and friends found eternal rest and peace. Cemeteries have an important role in the communities that surround them.  

Please visit your local cemetery and advocate on its behalf for whatever it needs.  Those needs just might not be met if you do not.   

The Guernsey County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps - .JPG format - have been added to the sidebar of the blog

The Guernsey County Ohio WPA Cemetery Plat Maps are based on those shown in the .PDF format from the Guernsey County Engineer's office.  A link to those is also included separately on the right sidebar of the blog. 

These maps do not have page numbers.  

Several maps appear to have been drawn at a later date than during the timeframe of the 1930s era when they would have originally been drawn.  

These maps are quite readable and in wonderful condition!

Townships are:

Adams Township

Cambridge Township

Center Township

Jackson Township

Jefferson Township

Knox Township

Liberty Township

Londonderry Township

Madison Township

Millwood Township

Monroe Township

Oxford Township

Richland Township

Spencer Township

Valley Township

Washington Township

Westland Township

Wheeling Township

Wills Township

Youth participate in wreath laying - Meigs County Ohio

Youth participate in wreath laying

Merry Christmas - Looking ahead to 2022 and news of more Ohio cemeteries being preserved and recognized for their important roles in our communities

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas 2021!  

May 2022 be a safe, happy, and productive year in all ways!  May you complete your cherished preservation projects benefitting Ohio's cemeteries!

This brings to mind the Facebook Group "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" that was created in 2013.  The overall theme centers around this: Sharing is Learning.  Learning from fellow members and their experiences; sharing links to the NCPTT and their Best Practices of Do No Harm procedures that have guided the goals of the group from its beginning.  

Extensive examining of topics such as the Ohio Revised Codes that impact cemeteries; adopting proper care of cemetery landscapes; studying the styles of early carvers who created some of the most exquisite grave markers in Ohio; and holding discussions ranging from GPR (ground penetrating radar) to using safe non-invasive ways to read badly faded tombstone inscriptions. 

Truly "cemetery preservation" stated as a term of reference, reflects on the fact it is an "umbrella term" that covers a vast array of subjects worthy of consideration to implement for the well being of cemeteries, gravesites, and grave markers and monuments. 

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December 18th, 2021, was "Wreaths Across America" day.  Again, volunteers who participated in this annual event placed wreaths at the gravesites of veterans buried at several Ohio cemeteries. We commend all of those who took part honoring our veterans and their service to our country.  Placing the wreaths is an outward gesture of our abiding respect and recognition of their service and sacrifices.  It is an important one that shows they are not forgotten.

Thank you for reading some of the posts here this past year.  Hopefully you found some informative and helpful. We continue Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio and striving to best preserve and protect them for the future!

Calling all Ohio Township Trustees - Please complete cemetery survey by January 14, 2022 the Cemetery Session to be held at the Ohio Township Association's Winter 2022 Conference - January 26 - 28, 2022

I saw this announcement from the Ohio Township Association.  

Included is a link to the announcement and to the Township Cemetery Survey.:  

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"Township Cemetery Survey"

****Please respond to the survey by

 January 14, 2022**** 

********  

Optional:  

Please forward copies of your rules/regulations/policies and fee schedule to: tespringattorney@gmail.com"

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As we know township trustees can struggle trying to properly (the key word is properly!) take care of township cemeteries; particularly the larger ones they "inherit" if a previous owner ends up in jail or has fled the state - two types of real examples of what has happened to Active cemeteries in Ohio.  

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Floral Hills Memory Gardens, an Active cemetery in Pickaway County, has been put up for auction multiple times for over a year and there have been no takers for it.  The cemetery does not have what would be considered a viable owner because the two men who owned it left Ohio almost a decade ago and owe back taxes on it to the State of Ohio. This was a for-profit cemetery.  Thus far, the township trustees have refused to assume responsibility for it.

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Receiving as much feedback as possible regarding cemeteries from Ohio township trustees will help the cause of resolving some long standing issues that township trustees face with maintaining their cemeteries.  

When pondering placing a cemetery levy before the voters, citing this example, there is often serious hesitancy in doing so because township trustees know there is a strong possibility it will not pass.  It is felt that many voters feel the dead don't vote - that it is an either/or situation between taking care of the needs of the living vs. the needs of a cemetery.  

It shouldn't have to be that way.  

However, local descendants of the dead resting in peace in their township cemeteries do care, and they do vote.

Hopefully they will care enough to vote for a levy that benefits cemeteries when it is needed. 

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Link to OTA Announcement

Link to Cemetery Survey

A link to the Brown County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps is on the right sidebar of the blog

There is now a link to the Brown County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps Collection on Flickr listed among the others on the right sidebar of the blog.  

The .pdf version of these maps can be found on the Brown County G.I.S. website.  

There are 16 townships in Brown County.:  Byrd, Clark, Eagle, Franklin, Green, Huntington, Jackson, Jefferson, Lewis, Perry, Pike, Pleasant, Scott, Sterling, Union, and Washington. 

Unlike most other Ohio counties that have an alphabetical cemetery index (listed either by cemetery name or township and then cemetery name), one could not be located for Brown County.  Thus, without the aid of such a useful reference tool, it was more difficult to be sure that all of the cemeteries were accounted for.  

Below are three cropped images showing the northern, middle, and southern portions of Brown County.:  

Each orange color symbol

represents a cemetery.

 Clicking on (when using a computer) the orange cemetery symbol, brings up a cemetery name. Clicking on the cemetery name, in turn, brings up its W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Map. 

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However, unfortunately, there are cases where the cemetery is named, but the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Map for it does not appear.  

Otherwise, if a map appears, it will be named with a (cem0000) type of code on the downloadable .pdf document of the actual WPA Cemetery Plat Map. 

The map number's normal position on the  page is located at the lower right corner. However, in some cases the number is either blurred out or that part of the page is gone.  In those instances, the page number for the cemetery's map is identified as "No Page Number" for the purposes of this map conversation project.  

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Shown below are the names of Brown County cemeteries listed alphabetically by township name that appear on the map when clicking on thesymbol designated for cemeteries, however, the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Map itself is not there.: 

TOWNSHIP             CEMETERY NAME

Eagle                          World War Memorial

Franklin                     German Reform

Franklin                     Lucas Family Cemetery

Green                          Mt. Orab Cemetery

Huntington                 Atherton Cemetery

Huntington                Bowman's Cemetery

Huntington                Cooper Family Cemetery

Huntington                Daulton Family Cemetery

Huntington                Evans Family Cemetery

Huntington                Flaugher Cemetery

Huntington                Gilbert Family Cemetery

Huntington                Harrover Cemetery

Huntington                Kerr Family Cemetery

Huntington                 Lowe Family Cemetery

Huntington                 Pettyjon Family Cemetery

Huntington                Reins Family Cemetery

Huntington                Scott Family Cemetery

Huntington               Wilson Family Cemetery

Jackson                      Beechwoods Cemetery

Jackson                      Bennington Cemetery

Jackson                     Greathouse Cemetery

Jackson                     Name Unknown

Jackson                     Waters Cemetery

Jefferson                   Associate Reform

Jefferson                   Gardner Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Carter Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Clark Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Day Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Ellis Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Richard Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Salee Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Stayton Family Cemetery

Lewis                         Wells Graveyard

Perry                         Engle Cemetery

Perry                         Ursuline Nunn Cemetery

Pike                           Harris Cemetery

Pike                           Moyer Cemetery

Pleasant                    Bridgewater Cemetery

Pleasant                    Cahall Cemetery

Pleasant                    Devore Cemetery

Pleasant                    Early Georgetown Cemetery

Pleasant                    Jennings Family Cemetery

Pleasant                    Lauerman Cemetery

Pleasant                    Lyon Family Cemetery

Pleasant                    McFadden Cemetery

Pleasant                    William Curry Tomb

Pleasant                    Printy Family Cemetery

Scott                          Courts Family Cemetery

Scott                          Martin-Hiler Cemetery

Scott                          Penny Family Cemetery

Sterling                     Small Cemetery

Union                        Bower Family

Union                        Dragoo Family Cemetery

Union                        Stephenson Family Cemetery

Washington             Gregory Cemetery

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While a bit challenging to navigate and work with, these Brown County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat maps were a welcome surprise! It is exciting to learn about their existence on the G.I.S. website. 

Looking forward to learning about other elusive W.P.A. Cemetery Plat maps of Ohio counties coming online in one form or another. 

These often overlooked cemetery maps have served as a helpful resource for genealogists and those wishing to learn more about veterans' gravesites.

Lay Me Down to Rest: Ep. 49 Heritage Cemetery - From the Williams County Public Library.

The Heritage Cemetery in Williams County on Find A Grave

Sharing this Youtube video: "Virtual Cemetery Tour: Shope Cemetery - Scioto County, Ohio" from "Wandering Appalachia" by Eli Allen

Sharing from the Portsmouth Daily Times - "Greenlawn Christmas Remembrance Service slated for Dec. 5, 2021"

Greenlawn Christmas Remembrance Service slated for Dec. 5

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Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth, Scioto County, on the website "Find A Grave."

"Historic Cemeteries and Gravestones" - Sharing from the Ohio History Connection's - Krista Horrocks

Funds awarded to local cemeteries from the Delaware County Gazette - November 23, 2021

Funds awarded to local cemeteries

Sharing this expanded story by the Delaware Gazette about the cemetery grant program awards this year.  So pleased to read about these much needed funds going to Ohio's Active cemeteries.  As we know, however, sadly left out of the process are Ohio's Inactive Cemeteries which also includes family cemeteries and cemeteries that are deemed abandoned that also need routine care - and many require exceptional care due to years of gross neglect.

The Champaign County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps are on the right sidebar of the blog

The Champaign County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps are now up on the right sidebar of this blog.  The original map pages are at the Champaign County Recorder’s office. 

Champaign County contains 12 townships.:  Adams, Concord, Goshen, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Mad River, Rush, Salem, Union, Urbana and Wayne. 

Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County.

 Oak Dale Cemetery is the large cemetery maintained by the City of Urbana.  

Among those listed as famous persons buried at the Oak Dale Cemetery on the website Find A Grave is Simon Kenton.

This series of W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Champaign County are somewhat different from most other Ohio county cemetery maps because the Title Page for the Project itself and Title Pages for cemeteries with more than one page are missing.  

Thus, I have created a composite Veterans Graves Registration Project Title Page for Champaign County with the Legend of Wars and the Legend for abbreviations used to identify the specifics of veterans' burials on the maps. 

The first 8 pages – numbering one through eight – are missing. Number 8 mostly likely was the Title Page for Evergreen Cemetery in Saint Paris which starts with number 9.

 Also missing are the following numbered pages.:

 11  The title page for Honey Creek Cemetery in Christiansburg, in  Jackson Township.

15  The title page for Maple Grove Cemetery in Rush Township  

      – just outside of the Village of  North Lewisburg.

20  The title page for Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Wayne Township.

24  The title page for Mutual Grace Cemetery in Union Township just west of the community of  Mutual.

27  The title page for Nettle Creek Cemetery in Mad River Township.

31  The title page for Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana – Urbana Township.

46   The title page for Rosedale Cemetery – Adams Township        

50   The title page for Spring Grove Cemetery – Johnson Township – near Saint Paris

56   The title page for Terre Haute Cemetery – Mad River Township  

60   The title page for Woodstock Cemetery – Woodstock in Rush Township

The above- numbered pages might best be identified as title pages that come before the map pages of a larger cemetery having more than one section.  Such a title page typically contains a brief history of the cemetery and its acreage among other possible information.

Note that some map pages with the veterans names listed also contain a separate Supplementary list of veterans’ names. 

Revolutionary sacrifices and service honored - Pageville, Meigs County, Ohio

Revolutionary sacrifices and service honored

Pvt. Robert Townsend buried at the Pageville Cemetery, Meigs County, Ohio - his Find A Grave Memorial. 

"Renewal for a Delaware County Cemetery" - November 13, 2021 - from the evening newscast by 10TV - WBNS news in Columbus, Ohio - Fairview Memorial Park.

Sharing this video that aired November 13, 2021 during the evening newscast.  

The video is short but it is definitely sweet!  It delivers much needed good news for Fairview Memorial Park in Delaware County, Ohio.  The video is from 10TV news in Columbus - WBNS - reported by Richard Solomon. 

On Monday, November 15, 2021, at 10:00a.m. at Fairview Memorial Park, a check for $13,000 will be presented to the Berlin Township Trustees from the Ohio Department of Real Estate.  These funds are targeted for addressing the massive amount of repairs and other issues needing to be completed at Fairview Memorial Park. 
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There are 1,795 memorials for Fairview Memorial Park on Find A Grave. 

Another auction ends with no bids on Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio

Posted on the November 10, 2021 "Dispatch.com" website, with limited number of free views for non-subscribers, is the follow-up story under the "Local" Section by "Columbus Dispatch" reporter, Sheridan Hendrix.  Sheridan has once again covered an auction offering for purchase the Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pickaway County.  

Sadly, as in prior auctions, there were no bids on this Active Cemetery that has lost its Registration due to the fact that there is no owner to renew it. The Ohio Revised Codes (Chapter 4767) require Active cemeteries to be Registered. 

Thus, Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pickaway County, Ohio remains as it is unless and until there is a significant change impacting it - hopefully for the better.  

In my opinion, the auction process clearly is one that has not worked well to resolve the fact Floral Hills Memory Gardens has no caretaker / owner overseeing its day-to-day needs.  

Perhaps the law in the State of Ohio considers delinquent out of state "owners" who by last published account owe $111,667.65 in back taxes to the State of Ohio, to still be viable owners of this Active with current burials cemetery.  

Keeping in mind that all five parcels of the cemetery property have been forfeited to the State of Ohio.  Also, keeping in mind that none of the five parcels of land have "Graveyards / Monuments / Cemeteries" Land Use Code of 690 - and why is that the case - I don't know. Four parcels have the Land Use Code of 400 - "Commercial Vacant Land" and one parcel has the Land Use Code of 499 - "Other Commercial Structures". Keeping in mind there are at least 1,250 deceased persons interred at Floral Hills Memory Gardens which is a cemetery as we know. Keeping in mind that a cemetery is sacred grounds. 

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Thanking Sheridan who has conducted outstanding investigative work covering the decade long situation that has left Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Walnut Township, near Circleville, in Pickaway County, Ohio "in limbo" and being maintained only by all-volunteer individuals, groups, and funeral homes in the absence of any caretaker owner.  

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The latest news from the Pickaway County Auditor is that Floral Hills Memory Gardens will again be put up for auction but not until sometime in 2022.  

This blog has been reporting on the situations for both Floral Hills Memory Gardens locations - Pickaway County and Ross County, since April 20, 2013.  Anyone can do a search on this bog for "Floral Hills" and all of the previous blog posts will appear.  That is now over 8 years - another sobering reality to keep in mind.  

"Abandoned Floral Hills Cemetery back up for auction. Loved ones hope buyer can be found." - By Sheridan Hendrix - "The Columbus Dispatch" - November 8, 2021

Thanking Sheridan Hendrix of the "The Columbus Dispatch" for again providing in-depth reporting of the historical events and current conditions that have led up to the upcoming auction tomorrow, November 9, 2021, for ownership of the Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Circleville, Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio. 

 The importance of bringing a greater awareness to the public about the plight of an Active cemetery like Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Circleville simply cannot be stressed enough.  To know that it has been left "in limbo" for almost a decade should both alarm and remind us that such a sad situation could potentially happen to other Ohio cemeteries.

We can see the need for further examination to answer such questions as how does an Active cemetery become stranded without an owner who is properly caring for it occur in the first place?  Why have legal safeguards not been put in place within the Ohio Revised Codes that would prevent such a tragedy from happening?  

Any cemetery can go from one of concern to one in crisis in a relatively short period of time if problems  affecting it persist.  Cemeteries are sacred spaces deserving our respect and ongoing good care. 

So, please take out a few moments of time to read this spotlight story to gain a greater grasp of the specific issues. 

Thanking all of the volunteers who have stepped up to meet the needs of the Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pickaway County as they live in hope for the future.  May this once vibrant cemetery be granted a change of course for the better to come soon. It deserves nothing less.  

Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio will be included in Auditor's Forfeited Land Sales - Tuesday - November 9, 2021 - 10:30a.m.

 The Pickaway County, Ohio Auditor's website has posted an announcement of its upcoming "Auditor's Forfeited Land Sales.":

"Notice of Auditor’s Forfeited Land Sales"

"The lands, lots, and parts of lots, in the County of Pickaway, forfeited to the state for the nonpayment of taxes, together with the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, interest, and costs charged on them, agreeably to law, will be offered in an Auditor’s Sale on November 9, 2021, beginning at 10:30 am at the Pickaway County Courthouse, 207 S. Court St., Circleville, OH 43113. "

(Courthouse phone number:
 740-474-6026)  

Clink on the link below for the list of properties that will be offered for sale.:

 Notice of Auditor's Forfeited Land Sales

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Please Note Parcel Numbers - Floral Hills Memory Gardens.:
M30-0-004-00-033-02
M30-0-004-00-037-00
M30-0-004-00-038-00
M30-0-004-00-039-00
M30-0-004-00-048-00

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Auditor's Map below:

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There are 1,250 memorials for Floral Hills Memory Gardens on "Find A Grave."

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Previous posts on this blog have been devoted to Pickaway County Sheriff Sales (June 30, and July 21, 2020) where Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, was scheduled to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.  

Sadly, there were no bids made in either auction for the cemetery, so now the five parcels of land included for Floral Hills Memory Gardens will once again be part of a land sale with the hope that this cemetery, listed as owned by the State of Ohio, will be sold.

Previous Post on Preserving Ohio’s Cemeteries and Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio.:

https://limesstones.blogspot.com/2020/06/its-try-and-maybe-try-again-in.html#more

And,

https://limesstones.blogspot.com/2019/10/floral-hills-memory-gardens-at-both.html

Coshocton County, Ohio W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps have been added to the right side bar of the blog.

The collection of W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Coshocton County, Ohio have been added to the right side bar on the blog.  

These map images were converted from the .PDF format into .JPG format (picture format) from the website of the Coshocton County Engineer's Office.  

The Coshocton County cemeteries locator map, showing the names of the townships, enables the viewer to "hover" over the tiny black cross symbols and click on them to see the cemetery names. Clicking on an arrow brings up the maps. 

See example below.:

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Once again, as is customary with other Ohio county W.P.A. Cemetery Plat map collections on Flickr, the arrangement is set up alphabetically by township name and cemetery name.

The map pages in the Coshocton County collection do not have page numbers.  

A few map images are essentially numbered burial plot drawings created for surveys.

See example below dated October 1, 2012.:

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Please note, various township cemetery plat maps have the listing of veterans names and the designated numbers for the wars they served in, however, the actual burial locations are not given.  Some other maps have only partial burial locations provided for veterans.  

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Additionally, for West Lawn Cemetery in Oxford Township, Coshocton County, it is owned and managed by the Village of Newcomerstown in Tuscarawas County.  These map images are in a darkened but readable condition.  Traced and drawn during June - July, 1939 by Mr. John A. Limbaugh, the West Lawn Cemetery map sections are in multiple pages; some containing veterans names.:

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In conclusion, Coshocton County's W.P.A. Cemetery maps collection includes what I feel is among the most outstanding looking cemetery maps that I have seen thus far in any county.  

It includes the veterans names, war number designations, burial locations, and is easy to read! 

It is for the Plainfield Cemetery in Linton Township.: 

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Here is a link to the Coshocton County Cemeteries as they exist on Find A Grave.

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Sharing this information as a Reminder coming up October 23, 2021 beginning at 10:00a.m. - Warrensville West Cemetery Preservation Workshop - Cuyahoga County

Sharing this reminder about the upcoming October Saturday, 23, 2021 cemetery preservation workshop that is free to attend.  

Below is a statement from Kara Hamley O'Donnell regarding particulars of the workshop as of October 19, 2021, that can assist a potential attendee of this workshop.:
 - Kara O'Donnell -- kara.odonnell@shakeronline.com.

"There are still 10 or so spots left for the workshop. It is free. We hope that those who come to the workshop will be able to assist with future preservation efforts in this cemetery, so prefer those who are willing to help in the future.  But that’s not a requirement."

The workshop is being conducted by Mannik Smith Group and Historic Gravestone Services/Ta Mara Conde.

Our website is here and registration link is there as well."

KARA HAMLEY O’DONNELL, AICP 
Principal Planner, Planning Department
City of Shaker Heights
3400 Lee Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
P: 216-491-1436
F: 216-491-1431

shakeronline.com

Shaker Heights on Facebook

The Warrensville West Cemetery on "Find A Grave"

"Carmichael refurbishes The Last Supper in Cemetery" - Sharing from the Portsmouth-Daily Times, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio.

Carmichael refurbishes The Last Supper in Cemetery

 

Sunset Memorial Gardens on Find A Grave

"Beamed up: Sugar Grove Cemetery bridge being installed"- From the Wilmington News Journal

Beamed up: Sugar Grove Cemetery bridge being installed

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The Sugar Grove Cemetery on Find A Grave

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Friends of Sugar Grove Cemetery on Facebook!

"CCPA to host 2021 Cemetery Tour - Champaign County, Ohio" from the Urbana Daily Citizen

CCPA to host 2021 Cemetery Tour

Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio. 

Sharing from the Crescent-News of Defiance Ohio: " Fulton County Genealogical Society to meet Tuesday" - Tuesday, at 7:00p.m. - October 12, 2021 - Trinity Lutheran Church in Delta.

This short news announcement gives us enough information to know that this event will provide a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the The Toledo State Hospital Cemetery Reclamation Project (TSHCRP)  

One of the presenters will be Kimberly Brownlee who authored the book about the Toledo State Hospital. 

"Fulton County Genealogical Society meetings are held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 410 Taylor St., Delta. Parking and entry are on the back side of the church. We will be utilizing distancing and would appreciate the use of masks for the meeting. Visitors are welcome."

**************

Toledo State Hospital New Cemetery on "Find A Grave."

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Toledo State Hospital Old Cemetery on "Find A Grave."

"Lay Me Down to Rest": Episode 40 - Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery - hosted by Denver Henderson - Williams County Public Library

Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Williams County Ohio

Sharing this story from WKBN.com - Youngstown - " Hartford Turning to Voters to Maintain Cemeteries" - Hartford Township Cemetery & Hayes Cemetery & West Street Cemetery

One statement to keep in mind that stands out significantly in this news story is this will be the first time the Hartford Township Trustees are placing a cemetery levy on the ballot for voters to have their say -- to either pass or fail.  This is a pivotal point to ponder considering there are 3 cemeteries in Hartford Township.  

Most certainly each cemetery has veterans buried in it going back as early as the American Revolutionary War and several who served in the War of 1812 and Civil War.  

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One resource that helps identify early veterans buried in these cemeteries is the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps in the 1930s during the years of the Great Depression.  

Below is an image of the ‘Legend of Wars’ listing of the names of wars, uprisings, and insurrections, with corresponding numbers. The proper number for the war a veteran served in are shown by his name on the cemetery's map page.  The plat map itself reflects veteran burial locations by lot number,  grave number, and their war number.  The last known war at the time was World War I.  

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  The three cemeteries in Hartford Township, Trumbull County, Ohio are - with their respective W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps shown below their names.:

Hayes (AKA Burghill) Cemetery  

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Hartford Township (AKA Hartford Center) Cemetery

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West Street Cemetery

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By browsing through the Find A Grave memorials posted for any of these three cemeteries, several early 1800s marker photos, in particular, were included and can be viewed in an enlarged format that show just how severely deteriorated the gravestone has become.  So much so that an inscription can now barely be read; if at all.  One such example is for Chloe Waite Bushnell who died in 1832 at the age of 94 and was buried at the Hartford Township Cemetery.  A close-up view of her slightly leaning marker photo posted in 2010 clearly shows long time evidence of surface erosion of the stone. 

Once these markers and the stories they tell are gone; they are gone forever.  If we are fortunate, at an earlier time, their inscriptions were read, correctly transcribed, and published.  Perhaps earlier photographs exist of them in better more readable condition.  These markers were erected to stand and mark a grave - a final resting place.  A skilled stonecutter carved the deceased's name, age, date of death, possibly an epitaph and a befitting motif commemorating their life - all on a well-chosen sturdy stone.  

The ill-effects of passing decades, including sadly vicious vandalism, have all taken their toll on these markers; but so did local apathy and neglect.  

Passing cemetery levies helps provide the means for necessary duties to be regularly performed to keep the grounds and grave markers maintained as they should be.  Funds from levies provide peace of mine for those who have purchased gravesites at their community cemeteries; and for descendants of ancestors long ago who found peace and rest on those local hallowed grounds.  

Cemeteries are deserving of our utmost respect - they are integral to the vitality of the surrounding community - and reflect its unique heritage.

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“This is a Cemetery”

"Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is undisguised. 

This is a cemetery.

Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched.

Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life - not death - of a loved one.

The cemetery is homeland for family memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living.

A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always."

By

~ Mary Lou Brannon ~

 
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