Adopt-A-Block Kick-Off March 2021—This new program being co-sponsored by the Jacksonville Boosters Club and the Friends of Jacksonville Historic Cemetery, has had an amazing response from residents of Jacksonville, Ashland, Medford and Central Point. Needless to say, with a cemetery the size of Jacksonville’s, we still have blocks available to be adopted and cared for. You can call Mike McClain at 541-899-5273 or Don Jennings at 541-899-6815 to sign on, or go to our website at: friendsjvillecemetery.org and complete the short form under “New Program–Adopt-A-Block.”

Community Cleanup Day on March 27—Well, spring is just around the corner (March 19) and that means the grass and weeds are growing and the Cemetery grounds need a little loving attention. We will be hosting a Community Cleanup Day on Saturday, March 27, from 9:00am until 12noon. We plan to concentrate our efforts in the Catholic, Jewish and Improved and Independent Orders of Red Men sections of the cemetery. Please bring gloves, eye and ear protection, as well as a mask to wear. Leaf rakes, gas-operated blowers and weedeaters, along with pruners and brooms are the tools to bring along. We plan to pick-up downed branches and limbs, rake leaves and clean-up debris from the winter. Parking is limited in these areas of the cemetery so those not wanting or able to walk up the roadway may want to carpool up the hill. Given the ongoing pandemic, social distancing and masks will be required to help protect each other and our loved ones.

Marker Cleaning Workshops Resume April 17—We plan to resume our Marker Cleaning Workshops on Saturday, April 17, from 9:00am until 12noon. To date, our dedicated volunteers have cleaned close to 1,000 headstones and monuments in the cemetery. All the necessary tools and supplies are provided so you just need to show up and dress for this hands-on project as you may get a little wet. Groups meet at the Sexton’s Tool House to pick up supplies and then proceed to the assigned work area. Parking is available at the top of the Cemetery Road. Please remember that masks and social distancing will be required. Our workshops will continue on the third Saturday of each month, April through September.

Thank You for the Benches and Cameras—Thank you to members of the Jacksonville Boosters Club, for beautifully refinishing our cemetery benches over the winter and having them ready for spring. They look wonderful and we sincerely appreciate all the work and time that went into this project. Thank you to Steve Casaleggio, Nancy & Mike Dicus, Richard Handler, Mike McClain, and Marshall Thompson.

The Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery have installed a couple of cameras within the cemetery grounds in an effort to deter any vandalism or other inappropriate behavior within the grounds. We will monitor the data collected and follow-up with the Jacksonville Police Department, if required. Thank you to Eric Rogers for setting up and testing the cameras.