Saturday, August 18, 2018

August 2018 Update

What a wet and rainy season this Summer has been. We uprighted two and a half stones earlier today. We should have had three completed but a monsoon blew in and half drowned us this morning. Unlike the wicked witch of the west, we won't melt.

A thank you goes out to M-A C for her donation to this project. Thank you again!

Since the restoration season has begun over 35 gravestones have been uprighted and secured. Two of which were severely leaning obelisks and one obelisk that had already toppled over. Our goal is to correct the dangerous stones before they fall or possibly injure someone. Numerous Civil War veterans whose tablet style stones were broken were cleaned and uprighted by casting new cement bases for the stones of these former soldiers. One of which was Colonel Frederick Andes. He is once again standing at attention.

Does anyone remember his obelisk that had tipped over? The remaining pieces were disassembled, a new level stone dust base installed, and then the obelisk reassembled. The cross for the top of this obelisk will be replaced on top of the cap after it is re-pinned and re-mortared for safety.



The same was done with this severely leaning obelisk which is a little over 7 feet tall.

Before

After


New developments have surfaced where a new owner has purchased the properties of the former Evangelical Protestant Church, including the cemetery. We will see how this progresses. The lawn is very high at this point and desperately needs mowing. The former lawn contractor was told to cease mowing. We will keep you posted on this.

My plans to attempt a new roof for the vault building are now on hold because of the sale of the properties. Perhaps something can be worked out. Below are pictures of the outside of the right side of the roof and another from inside the building. If left like this it will not be long before the roof completely collapses. Left as is, I predict three years maybe less before it is gone.

Exterior View


Interior View

2 comments:

  1. Looking to hear more about the property's upkeep and the new owner. Has anyone gone to the county and asked to see the deed? I'd be interested to know what easements are listed on it. I live across the country and am unable to do so myself. However, my grandparent are buried there so I have an interest.
    Btw, thanks for all you continue to do. It is notice and appreciated.

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  2. Apologies for the late response! Haven't checked for comments in a while due to many being of a spam nature. The new owner is not maintaining the cemetery and we are in the process of trying to get the city to mow the grass or force the new owner to mow it.

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