Spotlighting the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cleveland and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Today's Cleveland "Plain Dealer" newspaper has a feature article entitled:  "Honoring the Dead with an Act of Kindness" that is reproduced on their website of "Cleveland.com" under the title: 

"Neglected Jewish cemeteries to get loving care" that is well written and presented by Roxanne Washington with photographs by Lisa DeJong, both of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

I submitted my comments online about the story and will also share them here.  Also, below is a link to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland's website section dedicated to their cemetery preservation campaign where additional information can be found about this wonderful and important cemetery preservation project that is unfolding at the Jewish cemeteries in the Greater Cleveland area. 

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The Jewish Federation of Cleveland

(My comment posted online below)

Sadly, the photographs tell this story of the reality at these Cleveland area cemeteries that also exists at many cemeteries in Ohio and every state in America today whether the cemeteries are small or large; urban or rural.  The deteriorated conditions stem from several reasons that include the negative elements of time and weather, accidents from fallen tree limbs and trees, and no regular grounds maintenance.  But, none are more disheartening than the aftermath that comes from the hands of humans with their savage vandalism and thefts which keeps happening at cemeteries across America.

Unfortunately, cemetery maintenance is a local issue, and funds for their purposes are often meager or non-existent.  There are some cemeteries in Ohio that solely depend on donations for handling basic mowing chores because their township levies did not pass.

The Ohio Revised Codes that pertain to cemeteries provide few provisions to protect them. Inactive/abandoned (non-registered) cemeteries receive even less protection mandates than do active registered cemeteries in the state.

I invite those who are seriously interested in cemetery preservation in the state of Ohio and/or who desire to learn the proper Do No Harm methods and proper products to use for cleaning, repairing, and re-setting gravestones, to ask to join "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" which is a closed Facebook Group.

It is a reality that cemeteries are an integral part of the communities where they are located.  Too often though the living either pass by them and ignore them or perhaps do not even know they exist once plant life have had free reign to overtake and obscure them. Thankfully, because of articles like this one, however, more people are becoming aware of this ongoing quiet crisis that exists in what should be well kept landscapes where those whose lives came to a close had once chosen to rest in eternal peace, but now decades later have become places largely lost and forgotten.

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“Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals."  William Gladstone.

Walnut Creek Cemetery - Perry Township - Fayette County, Ohio - July 17, 2015

 

  Views above of the Harvey Limes gravestone both after cleaning and beneath it taken before cleaning.

 

 

 

  William Limes military marker below.  

The first photograph was taken following cleaning and the photograph beneath it was taken prior to cleaning.

 

 

 

Sharing Some Photographs of the Cochran Cemtery in Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio

Sharing some of the cemetery and gravestone photographs taken on July 19, 2015 during a brief stop at the Cochran Cemetery in Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio.  

Additionally, included are a few other scanned documents that pertain to the Cochran Cemetery.  

Also, below is some biographical information about Thomas G. Cockerill and Barnabas (AKA Barnabus) Cochran and his wife, Charlotte (Stites) Cochran:

http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Miscellaneous/FayettePickawayMadison1892P400.htm

“Thomas G. Cockerill was born September 11, 1812, in Virginia, and came' to this locality with his parents when nine yea s of age. His opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, as at the early age of fifteen years he was obliged to work out in order to help support the large family. When attaining his nineteenth year, our subject started out in life on his own account, and the following year was married to Sylvitha, daughter of Barnabas and Charlotte (Stites) Cochran, natives of New Jersey. Her father for many years was a sailor. Her parents were married in 1799, and, moving to this State in 1806, located on land in Walnut Creek, this township, where the father opened up a farm, and was among the earliest settlers. He died in 1845, when seventy three years of age. His good wife survived him a number of years. and passed away in 1855, at the advanced age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Cockerill is the only survivor. They were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were active workers and liberal contributors in the same. 

Mr. Cochran gave an acre of ground for a cemetery, and aided in the erection of the first church in this locality. It has long since given way to a more attractive and commodious building, which was named after Mr. Cochran. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Gen. William Henry Harrison.”