Thank you and much appreciation to our volunteers who cleaned headstones in the Jewish section of our cemetery during the months of May and June. On May 21 volunteers cleaned thirty-seven headstones and on June 18, another twenty-nine were cleaned. In total sixty-six headstones were cleaned with volunteers contributing seventy-seven hours in volunteer labor.

On June 14, FOJHC volunteer John McGlothlin and I conducted a marker restoration workshop in Medford’s Eastwood Cemetery. Attendees, both city employees and volunteers, learned the basics on how to safely reset and repair smaller headstones in their cemetery. It was a most-enjoyable experience for all. We did a similar workshop for employees of Central Point in the Central Point Cemetery on April 6. Both workshops were a great opportunity to share the knowledge and experience we have gained over the years working on headstones, monuments, and other cemetery fixtures in Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery.

History Saturday in the Cemetery, Saturday, August 13, Talk and Tour begins at 10am—Our fourth History Saturday program will be on “Remembering When Americans Picnicked in Cemeteries.” Those attending are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the program. Coffee, cold drinks and dessert will be offered as well.

The program is free and no advance reservations are required. You may meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find parking available. We suggest comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Programs are presented on the second Saturday of each month through September 10. See our website at friendsjvillecemetery.org for a complete listing of topics to be covered. Donations are always sincerely appreciated and help to support our work in the cemetery. Thank you for your consideration.

Marker Cleaning Workshop, Saturday, August 20, 9am-noon—Please plan to join our group of dedicated volunteers and learn how to safely clean and preserve our cemetery’s beautiful monuments for future generations to admire. All the necessary tools and instructions will be provided along with our appreciation. Meet at the Sexton’s Tool House at the top of the Cemetery Road for directions to the area where we will be working. Dress for the project and we suggest a hat, sunscreen and perhaps a stool to sit on. Visit our website for details and future workshops dates at friendsjvillecemetery.org.

Meet the Pioneers: Living History Tours in the Cemetery, Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8—Plan to join us for the return of this unique and popular Jacksonville program which began in 2006. Players in period costumes stand grave-side and share their stories and the rich history of Jacksonville and the Rogue Valley with groups as they are guided through the cemetery grounds from one site to the next. Tours groups will gather in the corner of the “E” Street parking lot and depart on the shuttle bus, courtesy of our friends at Pioneer Village, for a short ride up the hill and the start of the tour.

The first tour will depart at 4pm, then every 15 minutes until the last tour at 6:30pm. Tickets will go on sale beginning on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 and will be available at our ticket booth next to the Jacksonville Post Office and Visitors Center, on our website: friendsjvillecemetery.org or by calling 541-826-9939. Again, tickets will not be available for purchase until September 7, and the days and hours of our ticket booth operation will be forthcoming. Tickets may be purchased in cash or by check only, thank you for your understanding.

Our Players and our entire volunteer staff look forward to welcoming you back to Meet the Pioneers in the Silent City on the Hill.