Sharing from the Hillsboro Times-Gazette this story from Greenfield

Greenfield's Pattersons - in Honor of Black History Month

"Remains interred in deteriorating mausoleum in Mount Pleasant to be buried in cemetery" - Jefferson County, Ohio

This story is from the "Herald Star" in Steubenville, Ohio published online on December 18, 2019.  

The in-depth research material is well written and clearly presented by staff writer, Mark Law. mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Short Excerpt:

"The Jefferson County prosecutor’s office asked the probate court to disinter the remains of 29 people from the mausoleum and rebury them in Highland Cemetery. The body of Christopher Milliken’s great-granduncle, Watson A. Meredith, shown in the picture, who died on April 16, 1927, is located inside the structure."

 -- Mark Law

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 Watson A. Meredith on Find A Grave is shown as being interred at the Mausoleum.  That designation will need to be corrected once he is re-interred in the Highland County Cemetery. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This is a must-read article for a variety of reasons.  The scope of information appeals to a wide range of folks; and particularly to those who have loved ones buried in old crumbling mausoleums.

 

I feel 'the system' has failed because it resulted in the mausoleum falling into severe disrepair and being left to remain that way until it had become painfully apparent to the 'powers that be' that the human remains it contained would have to be re-interred out of necessity.

  The costs of demolishing the mausoleum, cleaning up the area where it was located, all of the time and effort required to locate descendants of those interred in the mausoleum.  Last, but certainly not least, are the financial costs and human toll involved to re-inter the bodies of those 29 lost souls who had no voice in the matter but to be taken from their final resting places - that was once a grand place - to one now that is not of their choosing. 

This painfully sad situation has taken a toll on the living and the dead that shouldn't have happened. 

 

A more satisfactory result could and should have happened through earlier assessments conducted for the future of the mausoleum.  Taking steps to restore it before it became as dangerously deteriorated as it did. 

 

 The Highland Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio has 2,147 listed memorials on the website "Find A Grave."

Sharing side-by-side before repairs and after repairs photos of the Henry Wilson Irwin Family markers at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Ohio courtesy of Scott Andersen

It is my pleasure to share these side-by-side photographs taken by Scott Andersen on August 22, 2019 of the row of Henry Wilson Irwin family grave markers at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio.  

*****

Another step in this process remains to be completed for these grave markers.  That is cleaning them with D/2 Biological Solution.

*****

All of this restoration progress for these nine grave markers was made possible through the efforts of Greenfield Historical Society volunteers, Scott Andersen, John King, and Michael Lee Anderson who largely handle the repairs and re-settings of grave markers; as well as the heavy lifting for the larger monuments at the Old Burying Ground. 

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

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

One of Greenfield's most notable native sons and decorated Naval hero was Rear Admiral Noble Edward Irwin.  

His parents were Henry Wilson Irwin and his fourth wife, Lavinia Ann "Lavina" Rogers Irwin.  

*****

"Rear Admiral Irwin graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1891. He was wounded in action on May 1, 1898 while aboard the USS Baltimore at the Battle of Manila Bay. Admiral Irwin was awarded the Navy Cross for meritorious service as director of Naval Aviation during WWI. 
The U.S. Destroyer, the USS Irwin, was named in his honor."

*****

The Greenfield Historical Society's tribute to Rear Admiral Noble Edward Irwin 

REMINDER: Thursday, August 22, 2019 - Volunteer work session at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

The Greenfield Historical Society of Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio is making great strides in 2019 during their sixth year of volunteer work preserving and restoring their village's Old Burying Ground; often referred to as the "OBG"!

Mr. John King is the contact person at jfking@earthlink.net. :

"Please join other volunteers as we continue to make improvements to the Old Burial Ground. We'll start at 8:00 a.m. and work as long as we have the energy. Come help and stay as long as you can."
~*~*~*~*~*~
**You can always check the calendar section for upcoming events at the Greenfield Historical Society where the cemetery preservation/restoration work sessions are posted.:http://www.greenfieldhistoricalsociety.org/ghs-Calendar.html#aug  

So many historical society volunteers like John King, Scott Andersen, and Venus Andersen -- all who are leaders who have volunteered every year; and long time volunteers like Michael Lee Anderson, Jackie Doles, and Gloria Losey, who have been contributing in various ways for several years;  they all are to be congratulated for their efforts that have greatly improved the condition of the gravestones and the gravesites as well.  

These stalwart volunteers welcome serious and like-minded folks to join them as they continue with their work.  

Spotlighting the July 15 2019 Old Burying Ground work session - Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

Volunteers continued their work this morning, July 15, 2019, at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio. 

John King, of the Greenfield Historical Society, who is among the chief volunteers who has been steadily working at the "OBG" since 2014, also uploads photographs taken during the work sessions onto the "Past Events" Page of the society's website.  

There are several links to the Greenfield Historical Society's Pages here on the left side bar of this blog.  

 

Be sure to check out the calendar to learn when the next work session is scheduled if you are planning to join the volunteers!

  Scott Andersen, Venus Andersen, John King, and Michael Lee Anderson were working today until noon as the temperatures soared higher during the afternoon.  Jackie Doles and Gloria Losey are also long-time volunteers.  

This group of hearty volunteers from the Greenfield Historical Society, and all who have assisted them at various work sessions since they started this preservation project in 2014, have been totally transforming the entire cemetery one grave marker at a time.  After almost six years of work, their improvements are quite apparent all across the landscape of this early Ohio burial ground!

Announcing two upcoming hands-on cemetery preservation work sessions at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio - Tuesday, July 9th and Monday, July15th, 2019 - Start times for each day at 8:00a.m.

The Greenfield Historical Society has announced it will be holding two hands-on cemetery preservation work sessions at the town's historic early pioneer cemetery - The Old Burying Ground. 

The dates are:
Tuesday, July 9th, 2019

& 

Monday, July 15, 2019

Both work sessions begin at 8:00a.m.

and go as long as possible!

 

Map for the Old Burying Ground

from "Find A Grave"

Here is a link to the Greenfield Historical Society's 

"I want to help" Page:
http://greenfieldhistoricalsociety.org/ghs-Volunteer.html

You can also contact the Old Burying Ground Project Team via email at:

jfking@earthlink.net

Here is a "Look Back" at the May 28, 2019 volunteer session at the Old Burying Ground. 

THANK YOU! 

Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 21, 2018 for the next Old Burying Ground work session - Beginning at 8:00a.m. in Greenfield, Ohio

The Greenfield Historical Society just announced the date for their next work session (labor of love session!) at the Old Burying Ground, and it will be Sunday, October 21, 2018 beginning at 8:00a.m. 

Check out the Calendar for these announcements as well. 

OCTOBER
3	Old Burial Ground next to Travellers Rest	"Please join other volunteers as we continue to make improvements to the Old Burial Ground. We'll start at 8 a.m. and work as long as we have the energy. Come help and stay as long as you can."

 

Browse through Past Events to learn more about the progress made in each session.

Old Burying Ground in Greenfield volunteer work session coming up! - Reminder: Wednesday, October 3, 2018 - beginning at 8:30a.m.

If you missed joining the volunteers at the Old Burying Ground for the work session of September 30, 2018, this is a reminder that another one is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3rd starting at 8:30a.m. 
~*~*~*~*~*~
Always check the calendar on the Greenfield Historical Society's website for upcoming events which include the "OBG" - Old Burying Ground work sessions!

To keep up to date with the latest progress made by the all-volunteer group who has been working for five years to restore the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield just click on the Past Events Section on the "A Look Back" tab found on the Greenfield Historical Society's website.  

Next, take note of the "Tombstone Repair" and the dates of each of their work sessions thus far.  

Click on each of them to see the photographs and a recap of the type of work conducted during each of the work sessions.  

The Greenfield Historical Society volunteers are a well organized group of caring people who are well trained with cleaning, repairing, and resetting grave markers from the smallest to the largest; including the more difficult ones like the "Box Tombs" shown below.  

REMINDER: UPCOMING WORK SESSIONS AT THE OLD BURYING GROUND IN GREENFIELD - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 AND WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3. BOTH BEGIN AT 8:00A.M.!!

Here are reminders about two upcoming work sessions that are scheduled for the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield.  

If you are serious-minded about cemetery preservation and restoration in Ohio, please join the volunteers from the Greenfield Historical society who are working so hard to clean, repair, or reset gravestones and monuments at Greenfield's historic Old Burying Ground. 

The Old Burying Ground Restoration Project is in its 5th year, and the progress made is certainly evident!  

In my estimation, this is the longest ongoing full cemetery restoration project in the Great State of Ohio!  

 

Spotlighting restoration of Box Tombs at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

Congratulations to Scott Andersen who has done a fantastic job of restoring these box tombs seen in this photograph.  The one on the left with its sides of individual stones is the more intricate of the two.  

As we can also see, the dirt area around these box tombs has been tamped down to make it ready for grass to be planted. 

We know that tombstones and monuments need grass around them to add ground support so they do not start to lean.  Without grass they can eventually topple over.  

One of the big mistakes cemetery groundskeepers make is to over-weedwhack around a gravestone, leaving a large circle of just dirt around it.  

As we can see from the markers sitting in slotted bases and some installed directly into the ground, the grass around them not only looks good, but is helping to keep them upright.  

Restoration work at The Old Burying Ground is now in its fifth year!  Almost monthly during the Spring and Summer months organized day-long work sessions are held to revitalize this early Ohio cemetery.  Improvements come one grave marker at a time as the dedicated volunteers work carefully row by row.  The transformation has been phenomenal!  

Indeed the volunteers of the Greenfield Historical Society, and others who have so kindly volunteered with them, have much to be proud of!  

The results of their work now sit impressively right in front of their eyes.  It is a treat to visit the  "OBG" - and to view the photographs showing all of their progress!  

The Greenfield Historical Society

Old Burying Ground Project Summary

A Look Back at Past Events - Tombstone Repair

REMINDER: Friday, August 10, 2018 - Old Burying Ground Work Session in Greenfield

****REMINDER****: 

OLD BURYING GROUND WORK SESSION, FRIDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2018

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Greenfield Historical Society

Greenfield Historical Society's

Past Events, including work 

sessions at the 

Old Burying Ground 

Latest News for the Old Burying Ground - Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio -- Next Work Session - August 10th, 2018

Summer is moving along rather quickly!  But we still have most of August left to make the most of it!

~*~*~*~*~

So, it is time to announce the next hands-on cemetery preservation / restoration / conservation session at Greenfield's Old Burying Ground:

~*~*~*~*~

***Friday, August 10th beginning at 7:30a.m.**

~*~*~*~*~

The hard-working volunteers of the Greenfield Historical Society are now in their 5th year of cleaning, repairing, and re-setting grave markers at this beautiful early Ohio Cemetery called "The Old Burying Ground".  It is conveniently located adjacent to the Traveller's Rest building.  

~*~*~*~*~

The entire area is steeped in local history that anyone can immerse themselves into.  Some of it had been hidden at the cemetery; now being discovered!

~*~*~*~*~

The Old Burying Ground is being brought back to life one tombstone at a time -- one row of tombstones at a time; due to a steady progress quite readily apparent, even to a casual observer, as the volunteers move through the cemetery's grounds conducting their meticulously methodical work.  

~*~*~*~*~

The good news is that serious-minded volunteers are welcomed to join them!  

~*~*~*~*~

So, if you have been looking to volunteer at an Ohio cemetery before this summer ends, this is the  ongest-running one, and I feel the best one to consider joining!  

~*~*~*~*~
So, mark your calendars for Friday, August 10th, 2018 -- start time is 7:30a.m.!    

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Greenfield Historical Society on Facebook!