We are so excited, it's less than a week before our big work day with the Vermont Old Cemetery Association! We've got some great volunteers coming and can always use more. I walked through the Burying Ground yesterday and marked about 20 stones for repair. We also have quite a few that still need cleaning and there are some that need to be dug out. There's something for everyone!
Here's what you need to know:
Date: May 18, 2024
Time: 8am - 12pm
Parking: This might be a little tricky, I'm going to see if we can use the parking spaces at the dentist and doctor's offices up the hill. We might also use the elementary school. Please carpool if you can! I'll post an update through the RSVP list later in the week so please be sure to sign up if you haven't done so yet. There is also space to add any guests. Family and friends are DEFINITELY welcome and encouraged. This is a great family bonding experience for kids as well.
What to bring: Wear clothes that you can get dirty in. If you have cleaning supplies or repair supplies, please bring those as well. And don't forget to bring a water bottle so you can stay hydrated.
What to expect:
VOCA will bring a team to help teach us how to repair broken headstones and reset leaning ones. We will be teaching people how to clean stones as well. You will find this is hard work but incredibly rewarding. And you might get hooked! The weather is looking good so far (cross your fingers) - good temperature, a bit cloudy, and hopefully no rain.
Most importantly: lunch will be served after the event! If you are interested in bringing a dessert or side (like chips, veggies, or drinks) to share, please let me know.
Here are some of the broken stones we're hoping to repair. Unfortunately, a lot of the larger flattened stones have been backed by a layer of cement so at this point, they need to stay in the ground. We will be exploring options in the future to see if we can separate the stones from the cement...without damaging the stones.
And there is a very special thing that we will be doing as well. Sanford Ayres is a Civil War soldier buried in our cemetery. Below are 3 photos. The first: the condition of his stone in 2009 from Alan Lathrop's Find a Grave photo. Middle: the current state of his stone. As you can see, it's deteriorated quite a lot. And the left? A brand new marker from the VA that we will be installing on Saturday!
This is going to be a terrific day in the Burying Ground. This special place has been neglected almost since it was established. The restoration work in 2014 (thank you, Susan Ferland!) was huge and gave us a bit of a head start but it still needs a lot of love. Along with a bit of heavy lifting, epoxy, and D/2. With your help, we'll be able to start giving it the respect it deserves.
As always, thank you for being an important part of this amazing project and please reach out to me if you have any questions. Thank you and hope to see you Saturday!
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