SAVE THE CEMETERY

Cemetery committee discusses saving Oak Hill

The Save the Cemetery Committee for Oak Hill Cemetery met for the second time on March 26.

Among the guests in attendance were Mayor Tom Riel, City Clerk John Peterson and Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews.

During the meeting, Riel said the city fully supports any and all efforts to save the cemetery and will do anything within the law to facilitate the group’s efforts.

In the way of new business, a discussion ensued that subcommittees needed to be developed to handle different projects involving the cemetery. Committee member and local attorney Fred Gallup is looking into the cemetery becoming a 501(C)(3) charitable organization since it is a non-profit organization.

Meanwhile, Andrews and her staff will be researching grants that may be available and to ascertain if the cemetery could be registered as a historical landmark. Peterson is also researching the property adjacent to the cemetery to learn if land is available for purchase. This could allow the cemetery to expand and make new lots available for sale.

Also, Greg Buckner will get bids for the mowing and maintenance of the cemetery for the coming year and Jim Long will get bids from contractors for ditching and road repairs within the cemetery.

Committee members Richard Luther and Keven Collins of Luther Mini-Excavating have volunteered their services again with helping with immediate road repairs. Meanwhile, Molly Lindahl of the Bradford Landmark Society will put Oak Hill information on the society’s Web site.

Barb Steinhauer and Kelly Platko will also put together a budget for 2008 and give the information to Howard Fesenmyer of the Blaisdell Foundation.

In other news, there will be a volunteer clean-up day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 in order to get the cemetery free of debris so that mowing can start for the season.

Anyone interested in volunteering should meet at the entrance gate of the cemetery on Lincoln Avenue. Organizers said volunteers should come dressed appropriately, bring their own lunch and any hand tools they have, such as rakes and garbage bags, among others. There is no need for any power tools.

The rain date for the clean-up is slated for April 19.

Source: The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Tuesday, April 1, 2008, page 2

• In the Fall of 2007, Angela Nuzzo compiled a video of Oak Hill Cemetery. Thank you Angela for allowing us to link to your video. Wonderful job!