I have a family cemetery in another state that is on pioneer family land that is still partially owned by another descendant. He and his wife are rather aged and can't keep up the area where they can even find some of the family tombstones from the 1700's.
There are several revolutionary war heroes buried here.
Does anyone know of any program or organization that would be interested in helping restore some of the tombstones and help with upkeep? Like maybe raising some of the tombstones on graves that have sunk in a bit?
The cemetery is in Tennessee.
I have an older cousin that went there this weekend. We recently found out about this connection. She took some video of them trying to walk around and "find" tombstones! All of the tombstones they could read were from the 1700's and early 1800's. I watched them climbing over bushes and around tall patches of grass and I was appalled that it was like that.
I felt so badly for them. I wish I had the finances to go stay in a hotel and rent equipment to mow and cut down things plus the physical strength to go make this cemetery a thing of beauty.
Diane D and B, this is exactly that sort of cemetery. It has a section and then it's fenced with a little gate. I think the boy scout option would be an awesome opportunity for a young man to go and do this. Not only would they have the physical strength perhaps they'd make a connection to history or something.
Michelle and RA, this family is a huge part of the local historical museum. They have a whole wing dedicated to my ancestor that moved to this area and helped pioneer the state. But they're all pretty much older. My relative that went to meet the family and see the cemetery didn't have a chance to go see the museum part but only got to go see the family farm part.
Historical society is a good option. I'd also think about Boy Scouts because Eagle Scout candidates are always looking for projects.
I would see if that city or county has a historical society and get their advice and/or help.
Added:Tennessee has a historical society. I just checked. Maybe you could start with them.
The town Historical Society would be your best bet.. in tennessee, I'm sure this will not be too difficult to do. Many cemeteries are rather old and hold such history of the state. Good luck!
There are many cemeteries like this in my area.
Some are in the middle of crop fields or pastures.
Many have little fences around the immediate area - and some appear to be attended to maybe once or twice per year - others are just neglected.
These are on privately owned land and they are private cemeteries - and anyone taking care of these needs to get permission from the land owners to do so - otherwise they would be trespassing.
I imagine laws/agencies vary a bit from state to state.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/2832.htm
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/homepage_general/faq_cem_pres...
Look for historic/archeological societies.
Maybe contact a local chapter of Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution?
You could Google the Tennessee State government to see if they have any sort of cemetery commission that oversees this type of thing. My mother does the bookkeeping for a cemetery in NYS and she has mentioned that sometimes the state steps in and assumes cemeteries when private companies or individuals can't handle them anymore - but I imagine the rules are very different in every state. There may also be different rules for "active" cemeteries vs historical ones.
How about contacting local high schools? Kids need to get volunteer hours (at least that's how it was when I was in high school, I needed at least 75 hours of community service to graduate). They could take this on as a volunteering project. Also, if they are teaching about the revolution in a history class, again, this would be a great way to get the students involved hands-on in the subject and learn.
Another option is to just rally up the community, the neighborhood residents near the area, and bring awareness as to how insulting this is to the local heroes, and how it affects the neighborhood negatively when their local cemetery is overrun by weeds and neglected. It also affects their town, when tourists come to see the cemetery and it looks like an abandoned field. I'm sure the cemetery is one of the biggest local attractions, or at least it would be for anyone interested in history.
I have wanted to help out in restoring historic African-American cemeteries here that are also overrun by weeds, but because they are worried about vandalism in the past and they don't know anything about me, I have been turned down. That is why the best bet is to organize a group of people, preferably locals, that have a stake in that cemetery's vicinity, so that they feel comfortable in allowing these people to participate.
If your family is a big part of the history of the state maybe you could get the land designated a historical landmark. You may have to donate the land though and I don't think any further burials would be allowed.
I know how sad this can make one though, our family cemetery in Idaho has become overgrown and many markers lost. When we buried my grandmother and uncle there many speculated that they may be the last of our family to be buried there and if that is true I suspect that once my generation dies no one will even remember where the cemetery is, it will be lost in history like all the people that lay there.
