Jacksonville Review – February 2024
2023 REPORT CARD & LOOKING AHEAD—We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and found some quiet time to reflect on what’s right in our increasingly hectic world. For the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery (FOJHC), the past year was one of transition, and we’re grateful that, with the help of our amazing volunteers and visitors, we were able to re-group after Dirk Siedlecki’s untimely passing and carry on together with many of the programs he initiated to help keep the cemetery an important and relevant part of life in historic Jacksonville.
So, in the spirit of Dirk’s annual Cemetery Report Card, here’s a quick review of some key FOJHC accomplishments in 2023, with appreciation and thanks to those who made them happen:
History Programs:
• Four History Saturday talks and tours, coordinated and emceed by Ellen Martin:
- Stagecoach Travel, presented by Joan and Tony Hess
- Symbolism in the Cemetery, presented by Dee Reynar and Ellen Martin
- Cemetery Mysteries and Myths, presented by Pam Smith and Carolyn Embry
- Education in the Victorian Era, presented by Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh
• Gravesite Flags for Veterans (Memorial Day to Veterans Day), led by Bev Smith
• Cemetery Tours for 4th-graders and seniors, organized by Gail Nicholson
• Two new Story Board Project plaques (Illtid Thomas, Louis Gentner), led by Dee Reynar
• Visitor Information Brochures updated and continuously available at no charge (Overview/Walking Tour; Civil War Veterans in the JHC; The Chinese in Jacksonville’s History)
Grounds Maintenance Programs:
- Three Community Clean-Up Days, led by FOJHC Board members and Sexton, Rick Shields
- 185 Adopt-A-Block plots cared for by volunteers, managed by Eric Rogers, Peggy Jennings
Cemetery Fixtures Maintenance Programs:
- Block and Marker Restoration Projects, led by John McGlothlin and Kurt and John Elliott
- Four Marker Cleaning Workshops, organized and led by Dee and Ken Reynar
The complete “Report Card for 2023” will be available on the Friends’ website soon.
Chinese New Year, Saturday, February 17, 10am-3pm, at Britt Festival Grounds—While February is usually a quiet time in the cemetery, that’s not so true in town where Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year, or as it’s now referred to by the sponsoring Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association, the 2024 Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year Celebration. While this event is not affiliated with the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery, our recently updated brochure, The Chinese in Jacksonville’s History, offers informative background reading for anyone planning to attend. Based on research for History Saturday in the Cemetery (2016), copies are available, free of charge, in the cemetery at the entrance to the Interpretive Center and in town at the Visitor Information Center near the Post Office.
Visit www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for more information about events and restoration efforts.