Lois and group:
As I believe I have mentioned before, I am in the process of having the
Messick Cemetery (See Cemetery "Hall of Shame" web site) cleaned up and
restored in
Henry County, IN. There are written accounts of this cemetery being in a
neglected state in the early 1900's as it is one of the oldest cemeteries in
the county. My motivation is having at least four branches of various
families buried there.
I was able to utilize the Henry Co. Sheriff's Department community service
workers from the jail on an entire Saturday. We cleaned brush and cut trees.
I also had help from some are residents who also had ancestors buried at
Messick, a group of students from New Castle Chrysler High School, and some
local election candidates that I know through my career.
The New Castle Courier Times newspaper also ran an article on the condition of
the cemetery and my endeavor to clean it up. I've received about $300.00 from
private citizens to help with buying weed killer, fixing stones, and buying
new fence. As soon as things warm up a bit, I hope to get there and locate
the broken and buried stones and mark them for future repair.
As my wife and I are expecting our first child any day now, I'll be lucky to
make any progress until later in the summer, but the hardest work of all is
done and the trees are gone. I just need to get the second growth cut and
removed this year.
With our criminal justice system overrun with people, more and more are being
sentenced to community service hours. I would strongly suggest you check into
this in your respective communities as this is not only free, but many have
talents and are trained tradesment that can offer more than you realize. (ie:
a brick layer that
has hours to work off would be a great person to repair and reset stones)
Also, appeal to your local newspapers to run an article with pictures and get
the attention of the community. Every little bit helps.
And one last thought. I appreciate all that is being done by Lois and
everyone that has contributed to this cause. There is no worse feeling than
stumbling upon a cemetery containing a tombstone marking the grave of your
own flesh and blood, a human who was both loved and loving, that has been
allowed to deteriorate and be forgotten. While we cannot change history, let
us not give up the fight to leave for our children what others were unwilling
to leave for us.
Kyle D. Conrad
Clerk of the Newton Circuit Court