22 August 2014

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Yesterday's workday was delightful. Driving to the cemetery past fields of gravenstein apple trees with their crop colorfully strewn at their base, and vineyards with vines full of ripe clusters of grapes was a joy. The weather was perfect for us with cool breezes, great for hard work. And hard work it was, as only 5 of us were able to come. Many thanks to Sonoma County Regional Parks who provided us with the usual dump truck, tools and water. With such a small group, we each had to work extra hard and stay longer in order to get the cemetery back in shape. We didn't have enough of us to thoroughly search the section I had hoped, yet we still were able to make a new discovery.

As you can see from the first two pictures, the cemetery floor was absolutely covered in fall leaves. Luckily the paths are lined with redwood limbs, otherwise they would have been very hard to see. We spent most of our efforts in clearing the paths and hauling debris, easily filling our dump truck. The 3rd and 4th pictures show paths neatly cleared.

During the month, Brad was able to reset the Frank Fairbanks stone into its base (5th picture). Thanks, Brad! This is the fully intact stone that Patsy discovered a few months back while raking at the edges of the Robertson/Parmeter plot. Yesterday Larry uncovered another "discovery," two wooden markers south east of the Finley graves, and west of Elizabeth Robinson's enclosure (6th picture, the first marker at the bottom center of the picture, and the second next to Larry's right foot). They are close to a path, but in an area without other visible markers. We do not know who they belong to, but from their size they seem to be infant markers to me. Jeremy (Sonoma County's cemetarian), wasn't with us yesterday, but I will check with him to see what theories he can come up with. With the recent discovery of the Fairbanks stone and the wooden markers, it seems there is more for us to discover. When we have a larger group, we will continue a systematic search pattern of our neglected areas.

The last attachment is of our small but sturdy group, shot taken at the Finley plot. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

Please mark your calendars for October 3, and come join us. Following the work session, we have been invited by Kathleen and Jim to tour the restored barn which is believed to be on the original McReynolds Ranch. Should be fun!

Best Regards,

Sue

Attachment #1
Leaves

Attachment #2
Rae

Attachment #3
Patsy

Attachment #4
Raked Paths

Attachment #5
Frank Fairbanks Stone

Attachment #6
Wooden Markers

Attachment #7
Group