Here are the minutes of the planning meeting held last Saturday morning
(6-17-00). If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help, please
contact me. Thank you.
FOWLER-MUNDY CEMETERY RESTORATION PROJECT
Minutes of the June 17, 2000 Meeting
A planning meeting was held on this date at the Perry Township Government
Center. 9 people were in attendance and those people represented the Indiana
Genealogical Society, Marion County Genealogical Society, Perry Township
Historical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Indiana Pioneer
Cemetery Restoration Project and the Perry Township Trustee’s Office. While
few in number, the attendees represented many groups.
The current status of the cemetery was discussed which included the
destruction of the No Trespassing signs, obvious youth activity in the
wooded area and the continued overgrowth of the area that makes it
impossible to see more than a few feet into the cemetery area. It was also
decided that the chain link fence would not be installed until the clean up
was completed or to a point where no damage would occur to it as trees and
brush were removed. The INPCRP as well as the developer who is paying for
the installation of the fence suggested this.
Jack Briles and his wife drove from Floyd County, Indiana (110 miles one
way) to attend the meeting and offer suggestions. Jack is a member of the
INPCRP and has been involved in cemetery restoration for many years. Mr.
Briles is very convicted in his beliefs regarding our nations former
citizens and what the expectations are for those who have been laid to rest
100’s of years ago. Many of the things that will be mentioned in the
paragraphs below are the suggestions of both Mr. & Mrs. Briles. Some things
were “Don’t get in a hurry and don’t worry about the headstones until
everything else is done”. Their attendance at this meeting was a real
encouragement for those of us who at times have become discouraged by the
task ahead of us. For that we are very thankful.
Bill Mondary, a part-time employee of the Trustee’s Office will be in charge
of the July 15, 2000 cleanup at the cemetery that is scheduled to start at
8:00 AM. A short orientation will be given to the volunteers on what work is
to be done, removal of debris, etc. It was suggested by Jack Briles that all
saplings 4” thick and smaller should be cut down and removed. The larger
trees should have the limbs removed up to about 6-7 feet above the ground so
that anyone around the cemetery can look through the cemetery and see the
headstones and anyone else who might be there. This should also solve the
“attractive nuisance “ problem that exists with the children and teenagers
that live or are moving into the development.
The Township will furnish some equipment and equipment rental businesses
will be contacted for donating equipment for that day. The Perry Township
Fire Department Tactical Unit may be on the scene to provide electrical
generators (if needed) water and treatment for the normal cuts and scraps
obtained when working in this type of environment. The Fire Fighter Union
will be contacted about preparing a cookout for the volunteers at lunchtime.
Various church groups in the area will be contacted for volunteers as well.
The Sheriff and County Probation Department will also be contacted to see if
it is feasible to get individuals that are required to provide community
service as part of their sentence for minor crimes to use the clean up of
the cemetery to satisfy the requirements of their probation. Jack Sandlin
and Bill Mondary will be the individuals responsible for making the
necessary contacts to hopefully obtain these services.
Ron Darrah, President of the Marion County Genealogical Society and member
of the Indiana Genealogical Society will contact the memberships regarding
the clean up date. These groups may also assist after the cleanup in
identifying the ancestors and descendents of the occupants of this cemetery.
Keith Brown, President of the Perry Township Historical Society will notify
his membership as well. Brown is also a writer for the Spotlight newspaper
and will try to have a couple of articles in the news publication prior to
the cleanup as another way to inform the Southside communities of the
existence, history and need for restoration of the Fowler-Mundy Cemetery.
At some point after the clean up, a probe will be done to locate any grave
markers that may have sunk below ground level over the past 70 years.
Joe Kemper will obtain posters and handbills to be posted in various area
businesses and passed out to the homeowners of the development in an effort
to get volunteers and raise the awareness of the neighbors of the
Fowler-Mundy Cemetery.
The volunteers need to dress appropriately for the clean up project. Long
pants, long sleeve shirts, heavy shoes or work boots and gloves should be
worn. Wearing hats may also be a good idea. The volunteers will have to
contend with insects, poison ivy and poison oak. Insect spray will need to
be used. It was also decided that in the event of rain on the 15th, the
workday would be moved back one week to the 22nd of July.
The meeting was adjourned and some of the participants were then taken to
the cemetery to view it first hand.
Submitted by Joe Kemper
6-23-2000