04 May 2012

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Although it rained at Spring Hill yesterday, today the skies cleared for us and we were able to have a very productive workday. Seven of us gathered for the event. We had not been able to work the cemetery since February, due to rain. This left the paths overgrown with weeds and grass, and strewn with debris. The seven of us attacked the task with vigor, filling our dump truck by noon.

We were joined this time by Mel Todt, Chairperson of Two Rock Cemetery. Brad, Jeremy, and I had helped Mel in locating the cemetery a headstone abandoned at Two Rock Cemetery in 1974 had been looted from. Mel came to meet Jeremy and I, and stayed to be part of our workday. Having had several stones returned to Spring Hill by amazing people who tracked the stones to Spring Hill, I was thrilled to be part of an effort that restored another cemetery's looted stone to its rightful resting place.

The looted stone was for two children, Henry T. & John J. Jones "who departed this life Dec. 24th, 1871" when aged 14 and 9. Etched on their stone is "death wrapped them in a snowy shroud." There is a wonderful story surrounding this stone, so captivating that it has been written about in numerous newspapers since the stone's home was found. Through the Comstock Cemetery Foundation website, the stone was traced back to Gold Hill Cemetery. Apparently the brothers had a very abusive father who had sent the boys to find a missing calf that had wandered away. From Jeremy Hay's Press Democrat article of February 9, 2012, "Jones was a "tough old case," in the words of a newspaperman and diarist of that era, and his sons, scared to return empty-handed, searched fatefully on. Three days later, they were found on the Ophir Grade "frozen to the ground and their horses standing by them."

The Jones Boys story is a long and fascinating one. Details can be found in the following newspaper write ups:

Press Democrat: http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20120209/ARTICLES/120209470?p=1&tc=pg

Petaluma Argus Courier: http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20120210/COMMUNITY/120219992

Virginia City News: http://virginiacitynews.com/childrens-marker-homeatlast-long-lost-headstone-stolen-from-p4494-1.htm

How this stone from near Virginia City in Nevada ended up in Sonoma County is a mystery. The stone is now back in Gold Hill being cleaned and repaired. There will be a ceremony later this summer to restore it to where it belongs.

I have attached a few pictures from today. The first shows the work crew, Mel Todt is on the far left. The next two pictures show our main activity of clearing paths and disposing of the debris. The last picture is of Spring Hill as we left it - serene and peaceful.

Many thanks to those of you who came today. Our next workday is scheduled for June 8th. Please come join us if you can!

Best Regards,

Sue

Attachment #1

Attachment #2

Attachment #3

Attachment #4