Springdale Cemetery prepares for its 200th anniversary with annual projects

0

The Springdale Cemetery Board begins the cemetery’s 200th anniversary celebration early – in 2027.

The Cubs of Pack 554 and their parents volunteered their time on Tuesday evening to begin preparatory work for the occasion. They dug up the dirt and planted about 500 daffodils at the cemetery. All the graves on Willow Street up to just past the cemetery sign had bulbs planted by them.

Borland said it’s nice to see the Cubs helping out as they can see their work flourish next spring.

“They learn community service and take time to plant flowers,” Borland said. “Hopefully they want to do it next year.”

Joan Mellon, a member of the cemetery’s board of trustees, said the project would honor the 2,000 people buried at the cemetery, located along School Street.

To ensure that every grave has a bulb planted, 400 to 500 bulbs will be planted several times a year until 2027, Mellon said. She said the idea came from association member Susan Mellon Rearick.

“We’re just trying to make sure no one here in 200 years is forgotten,” Mellon said.

Paul Borland, another council member, said many of those buried at the cemetery were born in the 1700s and 1800s. Many have no surviving family members, he said.

Borland’s father, Robert, founded the cemetery’s board of directors in 1982.

A helping hand from Phipps

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens donated hundreds of daffodils and hyacinths from their Spring Flower Show to help the cemetery launch their initiative.

“It’s fantastic to see these flowers given a second life and their beauty spreading beyond our greenhouse, and it’s an honor to help Springdale in this way as they celebrate such a significant occasion,” said Joe Reed, Chief Marketing Officer and Phipps. communications.

Mellon said the conservatory plans to donate hundreds of light bulbs to the cemetery each year ahead of the anniversary.

Borland said the council is open to any suggestions or ideas people may have to help commemorate the cemetery’s upcoming anniversary. The council meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Springdale United Presbyterian Church.

The council encourages the community to donate $50 or more to help continue maintaining the cemetery, including gas costs for the mower. For every $100 donation, Jim Yanni, a former board member, will match the donation.

“We hope we invest enough in this area that someone else can handle it for us,” Borland said.

Tanisha Thomas is the editor of Tribune-Review. You can contact Tanisha at 412-480-7306, [email protected] or via Twitter .

Share.

Comments are closed.