Wall repair at Evergreen Cemetery in Owego. Provided photo.
Major repairs have begun in Evergreen Cemetery. Jeff Soules has started the long-delayed refit of the integrated system of stacked stonewalls and clay drainage pipes integral to the stability of our mountainside cemetery. Several roads will be closed during this process until the pipes that run beneath can be replaced. This is only the beginning of planned repairs.
The Friends of Evergreen, supported by Trustee Fran VanHousen, Cemetery Board members Marie Ward and John Ricklefs, a group of Rotary Interact volunteers and other cherished citizens worked on Saturday to clean up the debris from recent storms, worn out decorations, and to reset and rescue the Veteran flags that tipped over or were worn out.
A thanks is extended to those that attended last week’s Cemetery Board meeting and expressed their concerns about specific issues, especially clearing the trees blocking the view from the SaSaNa monument and repairing the monument structure. We have secured an estimate from a tree service to clear the view and Jeff Soules has accepted the bid.
Concern was also expressed over the disheveled rustic markers, especially in the area below the pond. Markers of this sort make the plot lines difficult to determine and impede maintenance.
Wall repair at Evergreen Cemetery in Owego. Provided photo.
In the background, the Friends of Evergreen have made a number of proposals. They have asked the Board to review a “permission to reset” grave monuments form to allow the DPW to upright fallen or vandalized headstones.
They have made a request to open up one acre of the cleared area for plot sales and new burials.
They have asked that the price for plots, when they are sold again, be increased to levels ($1,000 with perpetual maintenance) in line with other cemeteries in the area.
They have asked that the Village Charter be amended to allow the Village to accept donations greater than five hundred dollars.
They have also requested that estimates be secured to convert the Mortuary Chapel into a “columbarium” to be used to house cremains.
The Friends reported that more than 40 people showed up to see the stained glass in the Mortuary Chapel, and they have installed a new message box for event postings and information on the front of the Caretaker’s Cottage.
Glad to read of the repairs and restoration of the view. I would be interested in purchasing a plot in the future opening area. How do I go about it? Thank you.
I believe that information will become available once the expansion begins, but this is a good question that I will field to the writer.
Dear Judith: When plots become available, I am supposing they will be purchased in the same manner as in the past. We bought ours from the DPW Director’s confidential secretary at the DPW building on Elm Street. We were shown a list of available plots and allowed to pick. We are actively pushing for new plots and for a crypt for the burial of cremains. Will write an article for Pennysaver when this happens although Wendy will likely break the news before me. Cordially, Peter