History Saturday in the Cemetery, Saturday, September 12 at 10:00am—Please join us for our final History Saturday program of the year as we explore Educators and Early Education in the Rogue Valley. This interesting and fun 90-minute program will be presented by Lynn Ransford and Pat Stancel and will also include a short walking tour to a few of the grave sites relating to the topic.

No advance reservations are required and the program is free, though donations are appreciated and allow us to continue with our restoration and preservation projects, along with educational programs. To attend, simply meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find parking available. We suggest that you wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Thank you to all who were able to attend our very moving program on July 8, when the topic was The Civil War Comes to an End, presented by Robert Hight and Gail Nicholson.

Marker Cleaning Workshops, Saturday, September 19 at 9:00am—This will be your last chance this year to learn how and help clean the grave markers in our Historic Pioneer Cemetery. We meet at 9:00am at the top of the Cemetery Road near the Sexton’s Tool House with plenty of parking available around the traffic circle. All tools required are provided along with instructions on proper and safe cleaning techniques. Dress for the project as this is hands-on and you may get a little wet! Our group of dedicated volunteers cleaned a total of 26 markers in July, an amazing amount of work accomplished in just a few hours.

Tickets Go on Sale for Meet the Pioneers, Wednesday, September 9—Our 10th-anniversary presentation of Meet the Pioneers returns to the Silent City on the Hill, this coming October 9 and 10. As always, there are all new stories to be shared with this year’s audience, along with a number of new players. Please be sure to mark your calendars and plan on joining us for this very special and popular Jacksonville event. Tickets will go on sale starting Wednesday, September 9 at the Jacksonville Visitor and Information Center, located next to the Post Office. Tickets may be purchased in-person or by calling 541-899-8118 for reservations. The Visitor and Information Center is open seven days a week from 10:00am until 3:00pm. Tickets are sold by the departure time of the tour you wish to take. The first tour will depart at 4:00pm and then every 15 minutes until the last tour departing at 7:30pm. The prices of tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children 12 years of age and younger, and a special family ticket for $29 for two adults and up to three children. We apologize, but we are not in a position to accept credit cards, only cash or checks can be accepted. Checks should be made out to the FOJHC (Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery). If you will be mailing your check in, please send it to the following address: FOJHC P.O. Box 1541 Jacksonville, OR 97530.

As this event normally sells-out each and every year, we suggest getting your tickets early. Tickets will be available at the event but, can only be sold on a first-come-first-served, space-available basis. Questions may be directed to 541 826-9939 or to info@friendsjvillecemetery.org All proceeds from this event support ongoing restoration and preservation projects in our cemetery.

Please visit our website at friendsjvillecemetery.org for additional details and information on these and other Jacksonville Cemetery events and activities. Thank you for supporting our Jacksonville-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Featured image is Meet the Pioneers 2014 by Ron Moore.