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."

Showing posts with label Michael Anderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Anderson. Show all posts

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Sharing photos from the August 11, 2021 work session at the Old Burying Ground - Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

 On August 11, 2021, the Greenfield Historical Society volunteers in historic Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, once again completed another work session at the Old Burying Ground that is adjacent to the stunning stone structure known as the Travellers Rest. Both are situated along the West bank of the Paint Creek that separates Highland County from Ross County in that area. 

Thanking John King of the Greenfield Historical Society who so kindly shared the first four photos below from this August 11, 2021 session.  

We see fellow volunteer, Michael Lee Anderson, in two of the photos. Michael Lee has been a steady volunteer for several years now assisting with the various tasks at hand at these ongoing work sessions at this scenic pioneer cemetery.  




Below are two photographs from Michael Lee Anderson who also shared with permission.  They are before and after views. We can see the improved differences in the after view showing the cleaning and re-setting of the markers and the completely repaired and reset obelisk.:

The before view below of the front row includes the broken obelisk that was lying in pieces on the ground at the distant end of it. This photograph was taken during the work session in July, 2021.  
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The after preservation work view is shown in the photograph below.  
Per Michael Lee, the ground around the obelisk had been leveled and seeded in July by Michael Lee, Scott, and John, so that the grass will start to grow around it to help keep the monument in place. Afterward, Scott Andersen re-set the broken pieces of the obelisk onto its base.  
Thus, the work continues toward achieving the ultimate goal of totally preserving and protecting the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield. 
As we can see, another successful step was taken on August 11, 2021 toward accomplishing it.  


Wednesday, August 21, 2019

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."
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**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.  

Friday, August 2, 2019

The Greenfield Historical Society has two Old Burying Ground work sessions scheduled in August - August 12 and August 22 - starting at 8:00 a.m.

 

The Greenfield Historical Society has announced their two upcoming August work sessions at the village's historic Old Burying Ground (affectionately called the "OBG"!):
 Monday, August 12th, and Thursday, August 22nd.  
Both work sessions begin at 8:00a.m. and the work will continue to "whenever"; as the weather can dictate!!!  
 Photo above courtesy of:
 Scott Andersen - Team Leader
Volunteers standing left to right:
John King, Jackie Doles, 
and Michael Lee Anderson
Photo above courtesy of:
Michael Lee Anderson
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The Old Burying Ground is included on the website: "Find A Grave" with 802 interments.  It is 84% photographed.  There are currently 14 outstanding photo requests for gravestone photos at the "OBG."

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"How Can YOU Help?"

"Join us for an upcoming volunteer session. 
You can stay as long as you like. 
We will help you get started if you have not participated previously. 
Tasks range from cleaning stones, straightening stones, recording information, etc. 
We post our scheduled sessions on the GHS website calendar and through communications such as this email.: jfking@earthlink.net
**If you are unable to attend a session and still want to help, donations are always welcome as we do have to purchase gravel and other supplies for cleaning and repairing the gravestones. 
Donations can be made payable to the Greenfield Historical Society and include a note that it is for the cemetery project. Thanks for the support."
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Monday, July 15, 2019

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!

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

October 31st, 2018 will be more than Halloween this year in Greenfield, Ohio - It will be another cemetery preservation work session at the Old Burying Ground!

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"Volunteer Session - October 21, 2018"

"It's amazing what a difference a few dedicated volunteers can make! Beginning at 8 a.m. again (although we soon began to rethink that decision), Scott Andersen, John King, Jackie Doles, and Mike Anderson were successful in repairing and straightening/leveling some very large and heavy headstones. Venus Andersen also stopped by to offer encouragement, but due to the cold temperatures did not do any cleaning of tombstones. 

Many thanks to ALL the volunteers who help throughout the years making this a very successful project.

More sessions will be planned for the future to continue this massive effort. If you would like to participate, check our website calendar for the next scheduled session."

 Sharing a few photos below of the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield -- often called "OBG" by the volunteers who spend a great deal of time there because the transformative restoration work they are doing is now in its fifth year!  

The Greenfield Historical Society volunteers are always happy when earnest and eager folks join them as volunteers to help clean, repair, and reset grave markers and monuments.  
So, please keep that in mind!  


While the old adage of "A picture is worth a thousand words" is true; but to fully savor the scope of the amazing progress made by these dedicated volunteers, the photos themselves can be best considered as a good lead-up to being at the Old Burying Ground and enjoying the remarkable view in person -- seeing an early Ohio cemetery that has regained its respect, dignity, and rightful standing as one of Greenfield's crowning jewels.  It just doesn't get any better than that!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Spotlighting the September 30, 2018 Old Burying Ground Work Session with photographs from regular volunteer, Jacquelyn Doles

It is my pleasure to share these wonderful photographs below taken by Jacquelyn Doles, one of Greenfield Historical Society's regular work session volunteers, who has participated in many of these hands-on cemetery preservation events at the Old Burying Ground over the past five years.  Her photographs were taken during the work process of the September 30, 2018 work session. 

Additional photographs can be seen from the September 30, 2018 work session on the Greenfield Historical Society's website posted on their "Past Events" section under the "Look Back" tab at the top of the main page.   
It is such a treat to see these photographs that "Jackie" Doles has shared.  She has cleaned several grave markers over the past five years, and she has been a regular participant along with Scott Andersen, Venus Andersen, John King, and Michael Lee Anderson who are the mainstays of this all-volunteer group.  They are steadily progressing with their total restoration and preservation of the Old Burying Ground (affectionately known as the "OBG" by the volunteers) which is adjacent to the Travellers Rest in Greenfield, Ohio.  

 
(Below)
from Jacqueline Doles:
"The Moon family stones all line up neatly in 
row like good little soldiers. 

Need a little scrubbing and they will be great."

  
 
 

(Below)
from Jacquelyn Doles:
These stones were broken when the big tree fell during a storm. We are not sure if the tree has any hidden surprises
(stones swallowed during its growth. Lots of stacked stones around its base, however, as is the case in many cemeteries.