On Sept. 12, the Hardinger Cemetery in Jefferson Township saw sunshine for the first time in more than 50 years. The cemetery was so thick with overgrowth and massive trees that it was impossible to locate, let alone navigate.
Newer massive stones still stand erect with many sinking. Older stones are broken and strewn about. Most are unreadable. Many incidents of caskets that have collapsed leave large indents in the ground. And groundhogs have undermined the structures of many monuments.
The oldest headstone organizer Gretchen Ruth is aware of is Reuben Rice, five months old. Died in 1838.
A request from a local woman to use the cemetery for a celebration of life was answered by Township Trustee Mark Prager along with local volunteers (with really cool machinery) and they were able to clear the thick growth and breathe life back into the sacred land.
Phase 2 of the cemetery clean up held on Oct. 9 brought in new and returning volunteers. The professional (and donated) experience of Chuck and Jo Wallace of Wallace Tree Service was beyond appreciated to ensure no stones were damaged.
More area was cleared. Trees were downed, cut and moved. More headstones were discovered.
The final phase will be securing a grant to bring in professionals to locate, repair and identify the stones.
Thank you to everyone involved so far: Mark Prager, George Otto, Pat Mickley, Jimbo of Art by Jimbo, Frank Dimarco, Doyle Sumrall, Jeremy Sumrall, Chris Pisanelli, Gretchen Ruth, Chuck and Jo Wallace, Jenny Wobbecke and Margaret Nabors.
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