The Pioneer Cemetery

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   Journal article....

MIDDLETOWN

Board raising funds to improve cemetery’s vault

MIDDLETOWN — 
The Middletown Cemetery Board is seeking funds to repair the “focal point” of the Middletown Pioneer Cemetery.

The board is working to secure funds for the vault to be completed with a new slate roof that will cost about $27,000, according to Deb Morrison, co-chairman of the Middletown Cemetery Board.

Eventually, the vault will be used as a museum and learning center for the historic cemetery, she said. Some of the city’s “founding fathers” are buried in the cemetery, including the Dotys, Tytuses and Palmers, she said.

Grant applications are being filed, and the board is seeking private donations to help cover the cost of this effort, according to Morrison. The goal is to have the vault project completed this year, she said.

The board has made “major improvements” in the cemetery, thanks to grants and volunteer efforts from the Middletown community, Morrison said.

The cemetery board has overseen several major projects at the historical site.

The board raised nearly $70,000 in grants and private donations to keep the 120-year-old vault standing by securing the stone work so it would not be torn down, Morrison said.

The board also received a grant from Middletown Community Foundation to restore 100 broken and damaged tombstones. Numerous old and diseased trees were removed last year by Duke Energy and the Middletown Tree Commission

Besides Morrison, the board includes Steve Bohannon, chairman, Mitchell Ballard, Fred Tyson and Josh Toms. The board was created in October 2010 by the Middletown City Council in order to advise the City of Middletown about the needs of the cemetery

INTERESTING.....I CAN REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN GILLELAND AND THE CITY TOOK THE STANCE OF IGNORING THE PIONEER CEMETERY, CLAIMING NO FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE YEARS OF NEGLECT, RIPPING OUT PLANTS AND BUSHES. MISS MOON AND HER CREW WERE THE CEMETERY'S ONLY ALLY. NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE A BOARD WHO IS APPLYING FOR GRANTS TO ATTEND TO THE NEEDS. WONDER WHAT HAPPENED FOR THE CHANGE OF MIND WITH CITY LEADERS? COULD IT HAVE BEEN THE MEETING IN COLUMBUS WITH LESLIE LANDEN WITH, PERHAPS, THE STATE TELLING MIDDLETOWN LEADERS TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE? CITY LEADERS DIDN'T TELL THE PUBLIC THAT MUCH AT THE TIME AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THE COLUMBUS MEETING. 

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VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Pioneer Cemetery Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 6:52am
	Journal article.... MIDDLETOWN Board raising funds to improve cemetery’s vault MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Cemetery Board is seeking funds to repair the “focal point” of the Middletown Pioneer Cemetery. The board is working to secure funds for the vault to be completed with a new slate roof that will cost about $27,000, according to Deb Morrison, co-chairman of the Middletown Cemetery Board. Eventually, the vault will be used as a museum and learning center for the historic cemetery, she said. Some of the city’s “founding fathers” are buried in the cemetery, including the Dotys, Tytuses and Palmers, she said. Grant applications are being filed, and the board is seeking private donations to help cover the cost of this effort, according to Morrison. The goal is to have the vault project completed this year, she said. The board has made “major improvements” in the cemetery, thanks to grants and volunteer efforts from the Middletown community, Morrison said. The cemetery board has overseen several major projects at the historical site. The board raised nearly $70,000 in grants and private donations to keep the 120-year-old vault standing by securing the stone work so it would not be torn down, Morrison said. The board also received a grant from Middletown Community Foundation to restore 100 broken and damaged tombstones. Numerous old and diseased trees were removed last year by Duke Energy and the Middletown Tree Commission Besides Morrison, the board includes Steve Bohannon, chairman, Mitchell Ballard, Fred Tyson and Josh Toms. The board was created in October 2010 by the Middletown City Council in order to advise the City of Middletown about the needs of the cemetery INTERESTING.....I CAN REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN GILLELAND AND THE CITY TOOK THE STANCE OF IGNORING THE PIONEER CEMETERY, CLAIMING NO FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE YEARS OF NEGLECT, RIPPING OUT PLANTS AND BUSHES. MISS MOON AND HER CREW WERE THE CEMETERY'S ONLY ALLY. NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE A BOARD WHO IS APPLYING FOR GRANTS TO ATTEND TO THE NEEDS. WONDER WHAT HAPPENED FOR THE CHANGE OF MIND WITH CITY LEADERS? COULD IT HAVE BEEN THE MEETING IN COLUMBUS WITH LESLIE LANDEN WITH, PERHAPS, THE STATE TELLING MIDDLETOWN LEADERS TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE? CITY LEADERS DIDN'T TELL THE PUBLIC THAT MUCH AT THE TIME AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THE COLUMBUS MEETING.
	I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.

over the hill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Oct 19 2012 Location: middletown Status: Offline Points: 952	Post Options Post Reply Quote over the hill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 10:36am
	I'll bet Ms Moon can tell us the outcome of that meeting. IMO I think MS Judy is politicing to make her self and the board look good. November isn't that far away.Tonight's council meeting will be a perfect example of "the will of the people" not being heard or I should say being ingnored!!!