Jacksonville Cemetery will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, to allow for the removal of the entrance gate and arch. The entire structure will be taken off site for restoration by Bryan Pancheau, Metal Sculpture & Design. It is expected that the project will take approximately four months to complete. A temporary gate will be installed to secure the cemetery grounds from dusk to dawn.
The gate which is well over one hundred years old, was in very poor condition and badly in need of repairs. The restoration plans have been reviewed and approved by HARC. When completed, the side pedestrian gates will be angled to provide for additional structural support, as well as allowing us to widen the drive through section of the gate.
In addition, the height of the arch will be lowered. The restored gate will be more representative of the original design than any of the previous modifications made over the years. The project will take approximately four months to complete with the work being performed by Bryan Pancheau, Metal Sculpture & Design. We sincerely appreciate the City of Jacksonville for moving forward with this long-overdue project and very much look forward to not only having a sturdy gate, but a beautiful and welcoming entrance to our Pioneer Cemetery.