8 October 2010

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Eleven of us gathered at the cemetery yesterday for our next to last workday of 2010. Regional Parks supported our efforts as usual with the tool trailer and dump truck. Much of our work centered on the stones - setting a few more headstones into bases, restoring footstones to their original locations, and fitting "pieces" of stones back where they belong. Additionally, we raked paths, removed debris, and continued to pull invasive ivy and acacia. Our weather was spectacular with sun filtering through the trees and a touch of fall in the air. We had perfect conditions for our labor - and for enjoying the dignified, peaceful atmosphere at Spring Hill.

Among stones reset into their bases were the two stones in the North West corner of the cemetery (attachment 1), and the Zilhart girls' double stone (attachment 2 and 4). With these in place, there is only one headstone left to be reset, that of William Finley, whose stone is still being pieced together. Footstones for Edwin Davis McReynolds and the footstone for Mary Roberston (newly rediscovered at the August 2010 workday) were also reset into their original positions. We have a few more "bits" of stone to fit back in place, and the earlier mentioned William Finley stone to finish, but otherwise we have completed the stone work! Many thanks to all of you who have contributed to this major effort - Gary Galeazzi for repairing so many of our stones at North Bay Monument, Brad/Bob/Henry/Jeremy/Jerry/Rick/Larry and Kirston for all the stone-related labor at the cemetery, Dick and Sally for remaking the wooden Finley markers as well as the Zilhart enclosure, and to all the volunteers that have uncovered headstones, footstones, and "marble chunks" while clearing debris.

I am often asked if I can give a "before" and "after" look at some of our progress. Attachments 4, 5, 6 and 7 are an attempt to show progress centering on Lulu and Hattie Zilhart's stone, and the Zilhart enclosure. Attachment 4 was taken yesterday, as Jeremy and Bob fit a last piece into the side of the newly reset Zilhart stone. Attachment 5 is the same shot taken in 2007, before Dick restored the enclosure. Attachment 6 was also taken in 2007, and shows a wider shot, taken as we began to restore the enclosure. The last attachment was taken yesterday - not only showing the gorgeous, restored Zilhart enclosure, but also showing the repaired and reset Ward, McReynolds, and Ogan headstones.

There is one last development to report. I have heard from Paul Schoch that final corrections are now being made to our official map. The mapping has been a major effort, and I am very grateful to Paul and to Phelps & Associates of Sebastopol for volunteering their time and skills to produce our map.

Our last workday of 2010 is scheduled for Friday, November 19th. Please come and join us if you can.

Attachment #1

Attachment #2

Attachment #3

Attachment #4

Attachment #5

Attachment #6

Attachment #7