7 October 2008

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Monday's GPR scan of our cemetery was fascinating. Ken Blom, who had set the scan up for us, and Dave Bissiri, one of Norcal's geophysicists, arrived at 9:30 am. Norcal spent about 4 hours with us explaining the process, marking the cemetery, and performing the scan. Some results, such as "object 1 foot below," we got immediately, and were able to take a shovel to see just what was there. Often it was tree roots, but occasionally it was part of a headstone base or a headstone piece. Also, metal objects show clearly in the scan. Other results, such as burial plot indications, need further analysis at Norcal's offices. They will try to get the results back to us by November 7th's workday.

Norcal was able to scan the area approximately from Mary Courtright's headstone (in the Robertson/Parmeter area) to the southern cemetery boundary, starting 20 feet inside the eastern border from the road, and extending westward into the cemetery about 44 feet. As we prepare other sections for scans, they have generously offered to return and scan smaller sections. I am thrilled that our pioneer cemetery is able to use such high tech methods in our restoration effort. I offer my deepest thanks to Norcal Geophysical Consultants for generously volunteering their services.

I have attached a few pictures from yesterday - the first showing Ken and Dave, the next one shows Dave calibrating the GPR device, and the third is of the scanning process "in action."