Stone Wall Excavation begins!
Our committee received funding for a work project through Skills PEI and the Island Community Fund earlier this year - which was approved. The project concept is to hire a foreman, and four unskilled workers who could learn a trade, i.e. carpentry, etc. and develop their skills, while at the same time, helping to restore the cemetery.The project commenced on October 18, and it is a 15-week project which will restore the stone wall around the cemetery; building two gates; a tool storage shed; and at the cemetery, as well as a garage at St. Margarets Hall. The project foreman, Lennie Rose, started Oct 18 organizing and planning the project work for the team which started on October 25.
After
the first week of work, tremendous progress on excavating the stone
wall was achieved, and we are very pleased with these efforts. A rented
Bobcat earth mover helped the team clear both sides of the wall. The
team is busy clearing roots and debris and organizing the stones. Local
Island sandstone from nearby shores will be used to complete missing
sections of stone wall, in the tradition of our ancestors.
The team is enjoying what they
are doing and they all work so well together.
This is a unique experience for all of
us - and they are happy to be a part of it!