2010 RESTORATION
Cemetery Restoration of 2010
In 2010, the focus of restoration work shifted to improving the overall appearance of the cemetery grounds.
Early in the year, the entrance to the cemetery was expanded significantly with the addition of many truckloads of shale. In addition, landscaping work commenced at the entrance to the cemetery.
A Memorial Service was held during the summer of 2010, but no further restoration work occurred until October, when preliminary excavations of the mound wall commenced. A 3-month project commenced in early November, with the project team uncovering and restoring an ancient red sandstone wall; finding additional buried tombstones and fragments; building a shed, benches, driveway fencing, and relocation of the cemetery signage.
Totally unplanned in this restoration work was the discovery of an ancient sandstone well, with a depth of 50 feet, and in pristine condition. The well was found in the property across the road from the cemetery, which was the location of the house of the Parish Priest. It had been covered over with a marking stone, and had eventually become buried under a mound of clay.
Finally, some unusual stones were also found at this site, with unidentified markings. We really don't know what the markings are - they could be the result of work performed on the stone, or may potentially be a form of gaelic stone writing that was known to be practiced in Ireland, and presumably in the Celtic areas where these pioneers originated.
This section, as well as the 2010 News section, contains more detail on the work and these developments.
