Cemetery Clean-Up

 Photo taken during a visit to the cemetery in spring, 2013.

 We are excited and pleased to announce that cleanup of Fackler's Grove Cemetery is to begin on Saturday, June 1, 2013 (rain day is June 15th).

Sam Wertz, a member of Red Cedar District, Hawkeye Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, has taken on the initial cleanup of the cemetery as an Eagle Scout project.  We have met several times with Sam and his father David to thoroughly agree on how to proceed.

A party of six Scouts accompanied by seven adults will begin working on removal of brush, mowing and weed-eating weeds, spot killing of invasive species such as multiflora rose, removal of small saplings and small dead trees, and making the gate/ entrance fencing more accessible. This will all be done taking into careful consideration the grave markers that are present, so as not to disturb or harm them.

Removal of large trees will be undertaken at a later date.

In other news ....

Cheri Franke of Ely, who has expertise in prairie plant identification, and Clary Illian visited the cemetery and identified prairie plants that are present.  They also identified invasive species that need to be spot-killed and relayed that information to the Scouts.

Clary Illian and Barb Horak of the Ely Community History Society (ECHS) met with the Big Grove Board of Trustees on May 21, to present a plan of action and discuss the project. 

The Big Grove Trustees intend to budget monies toward the project.  They will be responsible for long-term upkeep and maintenance.

ECHS has committed $500 as “seed money” to help with the project, and $500 to go toward later phases of the project, such as repair/restoration of grave markers and signage.

ECHS has received $275 in donations from Fackler descendants so far, with indications of more support to come from other descendants and interested parties.

We are now in Phase 1 of the project.  Phase II will address fencing, and Phase III will involve restoration of grave markers and signage.

We have been unsuccessful in obtaining a plot map of the cemetery.  There may not be one.  If anyone knows of one, please contact us!

If you wish to donate toward this worthy project, please send your check with "Fackler's Grove Cemetery Project" in the memo line to:

 Ely Community History Society, Inc.
  P.O. Box 191
  Ely, IA 52227

The ECHS is a not-for-profit organization.

 Photo taken during a visit to the cemetery in spring, 2013.

Cemetery Project

UPDATE for Fackler's Grove Cemetery Project

The committee has visited the cemetery and received permission from the Big Grove Trustees to begin clearing the brush and debris from the grounds.  We will be making plans for work days. We will also meet with the Trustees to present a more formal plan of action. 

Update

Thanks to Trustee Paul Deaton, we have received a copy of the original deed.  A deed dated March 14, 1860 from Frederick Wm. Vonhold and his wife, Anna Marie Elizabeth, transferred the land for Fackler's Grove Cemetery to the Big Grove Township Trustees for a sum of $12.50.  The deed was recorded on June 5, 1865. (We believe the surname is "Vornholt" since there are Vornholt family members buried in the cemetery.)

We have been very pleased with the positive response we have received from the surrounding community and are anxious for spring to come so we can begin the Fackler's Grove Cemetery restoration project. - B. Horak, ECHS

For further information please click
the "Fackler's Grove Cemetery Project" tab above. 

Fackler's Grove Cemetery Restoration

The Ely Community History Society, along with Robert Hach, Jr. of Ely, and the Big Grove Township Trustees are planning a project to restore the old Fackler's Grove Cemetery located near the intersection of Seven Sister’s Road and Polk Avenue south of Ely.  This is a pioneer cemetery with some of the earliest settlers of the area buried within it, but it is in a sad state of disrepair. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are looking for individuals and organization, youth or adult, interested in helping with this project.  Once the weather clears in the spring of 2013 we plan on organizing an informational meeting for interested parties.

Please call Barb Horak at 319-848-4074, Clary Illian at 848-4963 or contact us via e-mail or mail if you wish to be involved in this project either with physical work or financial donation.
 
Ely Community History Society
P.O. Box 191
Ely, Iowa 52227
Email:


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For further information please click
the "Fackler's Grove Cemetery Project" tab above.