HISTORIC OLD CLARKESVILLE CEMETERY: AN UPDATE
October 19 was a rainy workday for Master Gardeners gathered to help reclaim the Historic Old Clarkesville Cemetery. Headwater Master Gardeners were well-represented as we cleaned up walking trails in anticipation of the History among the Hemlocks fundraiser scheduled for later that month. Polly Earle, who volunteers her time to find, mend, and restore the headstones, was there to orchestrate the work.
Submitted by Rhonda Daniel, Headwaters Master Gardener, 2019
Entrance to the Old Clarkesville Cemetery
Polly Earle works a gravesite to find and restore an old headstone
Headwaters Master Gardener Rhonda Daniel and Polly Earle take a break as the rain starts
On Saturday, October 19, there was a scheduled workday at the Historic Old Clarkesville Cemetery. It wound up being a very brief workday due to rain, but Headwater Master Gardeners was represented. The primary focus was to pick up large sticks along the walking trails, in anticipation of the History among the Hemlocks fund raiser scheduled for October 25-26. Polly Earle, who volunteers her time to find, mend, and restore the headstones, was there to orchestrate the work.
Submitted by Rhonda Daniel, HWMG 2019
The mission of Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation, Inc. is to restore, enhance and preserve this important cultural landmark as a vital part of Clarkesville’s history and as a botanical sanctuary and resource for visitors and residents. Visit their website at https://oldclarkesvillecemetery.com/.
In April, Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock and Brooks Garcia, who is leading botanical restoration efforts at the Old Clarkesville Cemetery, spoke to the Headwaters Master Gardeners about the Cemetery Restoration Project. The City of Clarkesville acquired the cemetery in December 2016. Mayor Aycock discussed the ongoing effort to restore the Old Clarkesville Cemetery and noted that plans include establishing regularly scheduled workdays to aid in this effort.
Two workdays, April 10 and May 4, were scheduled for local gardeners. On April 10, more than ten volunteers from the Headwaters Master Gardeners as well as the Clarkesville Garden Club joined board members from the Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation committee to spread mulch, pick up debris and complete general landscaping duties. Volunteers from the Headwaters Master Gardeners included new trainees Karen Bartlett, Cissy Belson, Lee Boutwell, and Rhonda Daniel. Headwaters new trainees Cissy Belson and Lee Boutwell were also able to participate on May 4.
We are grateful to all for their time and effort on this project.
Rhonda Daniel, HWMG 2019 Trainee