Members of Boy Scout Troop No. 5 in Clarkesville work on landscaping projects at the Old Clarkesville Cemetery on March 23. Shown, from left, are Joseph McNair, Kevin Bayles, Patrick McNair, and Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation board member, Polly Earle.
Efforts continue to restore and preserve a sacred part of Clarkesville’s past. The Old Clarkesville Cemetery was in terrible shape when community volunteers first began working to restore it. Now they’re getting help from different segments of the community.
Boy Scout Troop No. 5 of Clarkesville was the most recent group to invest sweat equity at the historic landmark. Kevin Bayles, Cameron Mote, Patrick McNair, Joseph McNair and Joseph McGahee were on site for three hours on March 23. The group of industrious young men spread mulch and helped with landscaping tasks, according to Polly Earle, a board member from Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation, Inc.
The scouts were working toward a community service goal with an emphasis on the environment, Earle says. “All five of the scouts had the opportunity to put their hands in the dirt. They said they’d come back; they were very nice young men.”
Volunteers needed
The cemetery preservation board hopes others in the community will be willing to dig their hands in the dirt during two upcoming work days.
The board scheduled work days from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, May 4. Volunteers are needed during those times to help with landscaping, clean-up and other tasks. Those who can, are asked to please bring work gloves, rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows.
Earle says board members appreciate the Boy Scouts’ help and “hope that others will join us to continue to improve the site.”
For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.oldclarkesvillecemetery.com.
Photos submitted
