2020: a New Year and new beginnings!

Before I go into our year-end report, I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped make 2019 such a successful and rewarding year. All that was accomplished in 2019 would not have been possible without the support of our volunteers and the generous donations supporting our work and projects. Please know how much we sincerely appreciate each and every one of you.

Some Highlights for 2019:

  • Commenced with our Cemetery Kiosk project, Pavilion and Block Number signs in place
  • New Cemetery Brochure on the Civil War and Civil War Era Veterans buried in the cemetery
  • Meet the Pioneers fundraiser played to a sell-out audience raising over $5,000
  • Two major gravesite restoration projects completed

Approximately 1,300 Volunteer hours were contributed in 2019 to the following:

  • Grounds Maintenance and Cemetery-Related Maintenance Projects – 327 hours
  • Headstone and Monument Restoration – 217 hours
  • Marker Cleaning Workshops – 136 hours and 108 markers cleaned
  • History Programs and Tours – 569 hours (does not include time individuals spent in researching, rehearsing and preparing for event)

Some of what is in store for 2020:

  • We will be replacing most of the existing sectional Interpretive Panels as they have reached their life span and are failing. The new panels are in production, and will be placed in the spring
  • A new detailed cemetery map, a part of our Cemetery Kiosk project, is in the works and when completed it will be placed in our beautiful cemetery pavilion
  • Total restoration of the Fitt’s block in the Masonic Section. Demo work began fall 2019
  • A new cemetery brochure on Jacksonville’s early Chinese population is being developed
  • History Saturday in the Cemetery returns with programs May through September
  • Marker Cleaning Workshops resume in April and continue through September

Please see our website for complete details and photographs of last year’s projects and events at friendsjvillecemetery.org.

Thank you for your continued support of our work in Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery.