The Jacksonville Boosters Club has a long history of doing hands-on projects and providing financial support for the historic Jacksonville Cemetery. Even with COVID-19 this tradition continues. A small group of Boosters, working independently under the direction of Project Director, Steve Casaleggio, is refinishing the 27 benches that are located throughout the cemetery. They will all be refinished and in place by Memorial Day, 2021.
Another project to be launched in the spring of 2021 in coordination with the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery (FOJHC) is what we are calling the Adopt-a-Block program. Quite simply, we are asking one, two or more people to make a one-year commitment to look after and care for a Jacksonville Cemetery block. Cemetery blocks are roughly 20 feet square with varying grave sites in each. We suggest block volunteers make at least four visits to your block a year. If you wish to do more, we certainly will not stand in your way. The block maintenance will include sweeping, raking, bagging debris and leaves, picking up tree branches, weeding, pulling invasive plants, pruning bushes or hedges and in general presenting a well-cared for appearance. Some might even want to take on two blocks.
The Adopt-a-Block program will be under the direction of Boosters member and President of FOJHC, Dirk Siedlecki. He will assign the blocks and give you a list of what is asked as well as what not to do. The co-project directors for the Boosters are Mike McClain (541-899-5273) mnkmcclain@gmail.com and Don Jennings (541-899-6815) jenndxx@att.net. If this is something you might be interested in doing, please contact either Mike or Don. You do not have to be a member of the Jacksonville Boosters Club to participate. We are an equal opportunity organization.