Central Point parks planner and Cemetery Manager Dave Jacob walks through the Central Point Cemetery Friday. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune]
Central Point officials are attempting to scare up some volunteer labor to help care for the recently acquired graveyard next door to Don Jones Park along Hamrick Road.
The city took ownership of the historical IOOF cemetery in December and has been dealing with decades of ailing trees and deferred maintenance while devising a plan to keep things in order.
The site needs everything from tree trimming and weed pulling to trash pickup, help with headstone repair and assistance in conducting a survey of the property.
A small core of volunteers has signed on to help get things in order, but city officials are hopeful they can recruit at least a dozen more residents or community groups.
The property was managed in recent years by members of the now-defunct Central Point Masonic Lodge. Prior to that, a series of private owners struggled with upkeep, and the city took over cemetery ownership last year.
Tucked between Hamrick Road and the Oregon Fallen War Heroes Memorial at Don Jones Memorial Park, the property has been cared for — unofficially — by city crews focused on keeping fire danger and other problems at bay.
City parks planner — and newly minted cemetery manager — Dave Jacob said city ownership would ensure long-term stability for the site, though community volunteers will be crucial for the 7-acre site.
“I had about 40 or so people who had expressed interest in the last couple years, in volunteering. Right now, I’ve probably got about 10 or 12 folks who are still interested and have come forward,” he said.
Jacob said volunteers are needed for headstone cleaning and repair — for which a class will be held later this month — as well as basic cleanup. Help also is needed for “plot and headstone surveys” to gauge the condition of the property, headstones and plots to help prioritize needed work.
“We already have a small group to start with as far as headstone repair,” he noted. “When we did the training for our staff, there were like 15 people there, and that was probably too many. Quality over quantity is probably best as far as that goes.”
At minimum, Jacob said, the site could use at least two cleanups per year — prior to Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
“Great if they want to go out more, but at least those two times,” he noted.
Jacob said the city is working on new signage and developing a schedule and plans for ongoing improvements at the site.
“We’ve been working on a plan and getting things going,” Jacob added.
Central Point resident Karen Halstead signed on this summer as a way to help her hometown. Halstead said she was glad the city had taken over the cemetery and would provide future care.
“I’ve lived here for just over three years, and I love this little town so much. It was always my dream to live somewhere like this. I moved from a big city. When my sister came to visit me from the same big city, we went and walked through the cemetery, and it just felt so … personal. I don’t really know why,” Halstead said.
“Mostly it just needs attention and caring for, and I wanted to be a part of that. I don’t have anyone I love buried there, but if I did and I didn’t live here, it would just make my heart melt to know somebody cared enough to do that.”
Marlene Baty, of Central Point, signed on to help with cleanup and to repair old headstones.
“I just kind of wanted to give back to the community, and it seemed like an interesting way to do that,” she said.
“It’s a respectful thing to do to make the cemetery nice and care for those who were here before us. I’m excited to learn how to repair tombstones.”
Jacob said sign-ups will remain open even as cleanup dates have begun.
Community members with old records, or who need information from the cemetery, can send Jacob an email at dave.jacob@centralpointoregon.gov or call 541-423-1012.
Available records are categorized online, centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec/page/central-point-cemetery
Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 541-776-8784 or bpollock@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.