Cemetery Marker Cleaning and Workshops Resume on April 18, 2015—Join us for a fun and worthwhile volunteer project helping clean grave markers in our Pioneer Cemetery. This will be our third year offering these workshops with our trained volunteers helping to clean and preserve the markers. In 2013 and 2014, volunteers cleaned 244 markers, which is quite a remarkable number. We meet on the third Saturday of each month on April 18, June 20, July 18, August 15, and September 19. There is no workshop or cleaning in May as it conflicts with preparing the cemetery grounds for the Memorial Day Holiday.

Please meet at the Sexton’s Tool House, at the top of the Cemetery Road, with plenty of parking available within the cemetery grounds. Dress accordingly as you may get a little wet. In the warmer months you may want to consider sunscreen and a hat. You may also want to bring a stool or folding chair to sit on. We start at 9:00am and usually work until around noon. If you are not available for the full three hours, no problem, an hour or two will be a wonderful help, as well. All the necessary tools and equipment, along with instructions on proper cleaning techniques, will be provided.

Please check our website at www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for additional details or call Dirk at 541 826-9939

A Big Thank You to the Jacksonville Boosters Club and Foundation—The members of the Jacksonville Boosters Club have once again selected the Cemetery as a Community Project. A few years back they did an outstanding job of cleaning-up, repairing and repainting the Sexton’s Tool House, which was a major undertaking. This year they will be repairing and repainting the exterior of the restrooms along with replanting the beds that surround the building. In addition, two new benches will be placed along with the existing picnic table, (that will be refurbished) making for a nice quiet and comfortable place to sit, relax and have your lunch within the cemetery grounds. The Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery sincerely thank the Boosters Club for choosing the Cemetery for one of their 2015 projects. I am sure that family members, friends, visitors and volunteers will all appreciate the Boosters’ generosity and all they do for the community and the City of Jacksonville. Three cheers for the Boosters!!!

Featured image above is Linda DeWald and Carol Knapp at September 2014 marker cleaning and workshop. Photo: Mary Siedlecki