3 August 2018

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Seven of us met today at Spring Hill under slightly smoky skies. Smoke from the Mendocino fires has begun to make its way south. Although it was warm today, all the shade from our numerous trees made the work day conditions pleasant, if dry and dusty (picture 1, looking towards the Finley area).

We focused on maintaining our paths, clearing ivy, and pulling invasive blackberry and acacia sprouts (Pictures 2 an 3). With all the trees comes LOTS of leaves. This year, with such dry conditions, it seems we have an abundance of leaves strewn across our paths.

Last workday we had discovered Florence Lavender's foot stone, and did some further research on Rebecca Crayne, Florence's grandmother, and wife of Spring Hill's Daniel Crayne. Today some time was spent looking for Rebecca's stone. In June the area half way between the Florence Lavender and Daniel Crayne stones was probed. Picture 4 shows the Daniel Crayne stone on the left of the picture, with Florence Lavender on the far right. Today we probed closer to Daniel's stone - still without finding Rebecca. Once the rains start and the ground softens, we will search again for Rebecca, this time trying to the left of Daniel's stone, as well as additional areas between Daniel and Florence. From several newspaper sources and Rebecca Crayne's death certificate, we know that she was buried at Spring Hill. But so far she has eluded us!

We have just 2 workdays left this year, September 28th and November 16th. Please come and join us if you're able to - we'd welcome the help!

Picture #1
Finley Area

Picture #2
Patsy raking

Picture #3
Loading truck

Picture #4
Looking for Rebecca's stone

Picture #5
Group