Last Week at Bem

It's hard to believe it was nearly a week ago that we worked out at Bem! We had a perfect day with sunshine and mild temperatures. Rev. Rick Oberle and crew were on hand doing their annual maintenance to the church cemetery. Our job was to make some repairs and train the church members in proper cleaning techniques. Overall, the cemetery is in excellent condition. Only about six headstones actually needed repair (two must be replaced) and these repairs were completed for the most part. Many stones were leveled and dozens were cleaned by a super-ambitious cleaning crew. Six of our members showed up, but with the help of a dozen or more church members, things went quickly and efficiently. A luncheon was served by the church for which we are grateful. Thanks to all who helped. Thanks to Susan for the picture.

Disappointment at Cheatham-Gibson-Coleman

Given the weather forecast (rain and snow???) It is wise to cancel our work night at Cheatham-Gibson-Coleman Cemetery this evening. (Tuesday) Sorry!

Please remember this Saturday we are to work out at Bem in Gasconade County. The long range forecast looks great. We need a good turnout of members to make this a one-day project. Marc hopes to see you all there.

Awesome Day at Bassora Cemetery / Krog Park

Marc is happy to report a very successful work day at Bassora Cemetery / Krog Park. We spent about two and half hours probing for tombstones, using information gathered in 1926 regarding the location of the headstones as a basic guide.

Our findings were as follows:

1. Base of a small headstone was found flush with the ground.
2. Bottom 1/3 of a small headstone was found sticking out of the ground near Hancock Street. Only inscribed information was that of the monument maker.
3. Intact headstone and base found for Eliza Cowherd, daughter of Washington's founder Lucinda Owens.
4. Intact headstone found for Bernhard Fricke, considered Washington's first or second German immigrant. He housed the twelve Catholic families when they arrived in 1833. His headstone was NOT recorded in 1926, but his name was included on the commemorative stone because research proved he was buried there.
5. An interesting stack of bricks was found at or near the supposed site of William G. Owens' grave. We plan to carefully remove the bricks next time, hoping that perhaps they were laid to protect his tombstone.
   

Although we had a small turnout, some outstanding discoveries were made. It was most encouraging to find these headstones in near-perfect condition. This certainly leaves us hungry for more!  If the most unwelcome snowstorm hadn't hit us, it's hard telling what else would have been uncovered.

Thanks to everyone who was able to help.

Off to a Busy Start -- Please Join Us

At last night’s meeting of the cemetery society we established the following agenda:

Thursday, March 24, 4:30 p.m.: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Washington. Help the Odd Fellows get the cemetery in shape for spring. Some stone work can be accomplished (leveling, cleaning). Fill trailer!

Saturday, March 26, 9:00 a.m.: Krog Park (Bassora Cemetery) in Washington. Probing for headstones, recording information thereon.

Tuesday, March 29, 5:00 p.m.: Cheatham-Gibson-Coleman Cemetery, Campbellton. Still probing for bases and stones. Repair and resetting of stones.

Saturday, April 2, 9:00 a.m.: St. John’s UCC Cemetery, Bem (Gasconade Co.) Carpoolers meet at Washington Historical Society Museum at 8:00 a.m. We'll repair and reset about a half dozen stones. Teach cleaning techniques.

Saturday, April 16, 9:00 a.m.: James Cemetery, Pacific. Heavy equipment will be used to peel back the earth slowly. We are to look for tombstones, record and assess overall situation for future restoration.

Please attend whatever you can; obviously we are busy and could use your help. Also, remember to ask a friend to join us. For only $10 a year, you can really work up a sweat!

Cemetery Work Dates Set

Tuesday, March 1: From 4:30 p.m. until dark we will be probing for bases and headstones at the Cheatham-Gibson-Coleman Cemetery near Campbellton. Bring probes and shovels. Weather permitting. We might need the shovels to move the snow! On Highway KK west of Campbellton, Fire #KK4302.

Saturday, March 12: Beginning at 9:00 a.m., we will be working at Finney Cemetery near Robertsville. This is a completed project that was badly vandalized last month. The tombstones need to be re-set and Washington Monument Company has offered to help us with the heavy work. Also, we need to drop and burn two dead trees and perform some other general maintenance. There is a lot of trash in the road ditch that needs to be cleaned up, etc. Bring chainsaws, rakes, trash / recycling container, matches (in case I forget), etc. If the weather is uncooperative we will reschedule.

We need to get the iron crosses from St. Francis Borgia reset sometime soon. Do you have them Allen?

Reminder: Work day at St. John’s U.C.C. at Bem (near Owensville) is Saturday, April 2.

Reminder: The Trailer Committee will meet soon to ready our trailer for lots of action! A special Thank You to Shelly for designing the decal for the trailer.

Marc Has a Doozy of an Idea!

Our little group uses expendable supplies that become exhausted and need replacing. By keeping your dues current, new materials can be purchased and always available for use.

Just remember, your dues can keep the work going even when you are unable to join the crew every workday. Your help is always greatly appreciated. Don’t forget our meeting, Feb. 22, 2010. We look forward to seeing you there!

It'll Soon Be Time to Visit the PROJECTS!

Spring is just around the corner, so buy some new work gloves and blow the dust off your back brace; it’s almost time to get cracking!

A trip to Finney Cemetery yesterday resulted in resetting the misplaced footstones and all of the rocks that had marked graves. Also, the smaller stones belonging to the two Finney infants were set up. Washington Monument Company has graciously volunteered to assist in putting the headstones back up whenever we set a work date. There are a number of cedar logs still scattered around the perimeter of the cemetery. If anyone wants these, please make arrangements to pick them up before the bonfire, otherwise they will be up in smoke!

Cheatham-Gibson-Coleman Cemetery: Our Campbellton project is awaiting completion. If we cannot locate bases, we will need to build and set about six of them. We will use our knowledge of the family relationships to determine the placement of the headstones. We may also have a burn day there to clean up the brush pile and we need to finish cleaning the headstones.

James Cemetery (working name): At Pacific, we have committed ourselves to an “early spring” day where we will observe as layers of earth are peeled back an inch at a time. Our job is to spot headstones or other markers as the earth is peeled back. Then, our assignment will be to repair and reset whatever is repairable. The city of Pacific will be maintaining the site.

St. Francis Borgia Cemetery: There are still a couple of iron crosses to be reset. The church’s volunteers will continue to straighten leaning and settling stones.

Wildey Odd Fellows: Some have expressed an interest in working here as time allows and perhaps in smaller groups, etc. There is much that can be done, including straightening, repair, and lots of cleaning.

St. John’s / Bem: We will be spending one work day at Bem in Gasconade County to help their cemetery committee with a few repairs and share our techniques.

Ebenezer “Stone” Church: Two of our repairs have failed, so we need to spend time there. One headstone is being replaced by Washington Monument Company. Thanks!!