Feature ArticleJune 30/04
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Cadets start Cloyne Pioneer Cemetery restoration
by Will Cybulski
Cloyne On Saturday, June 12th past, a traveller around the Little Pond Road subdivision in Cloyne might have thought they were seeing babes in the woods, but those young people were actually members of the No. 640 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Cadet Corp literally coming out of the woodwork in support of a good cause. Putting to work rakes, saws, and axes, as well as a liberal dose of elbow grease, the Cadets were the start of a hoped-for volunteer community effort to rehabilitate the long abandoned Cloyne Pioneer Cemetery. Believed to date back to pre-Confederation, the inactive cemetery fell into a general state of disrepair over the years.
But it has been tended from time to time by neighbouring resident Ursula Ossenberg, who is seen by some as a self-appointed, unofficial custodian of the site. Ms Ossenberg has kept several graves in prominence, marking them with stones and a small picket fence. On occasion, she has cleaned the two markers that remain, and has decorated the area with flowers.
When crews went in to clean up trees and brush following the local micro-burst of August 2002, the burial ground was rediscovered as part of North Frontenac Townships Cemetery Committee obligation.
Each year, the Cadet Corp takes on an environmental task as a team effort, and in April, local Corp leader Tim Trickey was approached by the Townships Committee to consider the cemetery as this years project. Once approval was received from his superiors, Trickey committed his young charges to the job at hand, and more than twenty showed for the initial clean-up.
Others in the community have shown similar interest in a volunteer restoration effort, with offers of help on large tree removal from an arbourist, fill from a gravel supplier, and an individual who is willing to provide expertise in cleaning up the headstones that remain. Still another has offered to take the brush and wood debris as ground fill.
A number of people have called with background information relating to the cemetery, and the Cloyne and District Historical Society will consider addressing the heritage data, as well as providing advice on some of the restoration work. Personally, I view the cemetery as a priceless historical treasure which could suffer further damage if an informed approach is not taken.
A portion of a hand-crafted crib has been recovered from the cemetery, and the Committee is seeking a woodworker who would be willing to voluntarily build some new fencing from this original pattern. Hand-in-hand with that project, we hope to source a donation of suitable lumber once that requirement is known. The Committee has also been led to believe that a number of wooden crosses have been stored locally to prevent weather damage, so that is another part that will need to be looked at for refurbishing. A vintage-type sign to denote the cemetery is also on the wish list, and here again, any assistance would be appreciated. If anyone else is interested in taking a role in the restoration of the Pioneer Cemetery, please let us know. While the Committee has made a recommendation to Township Council that some funding be allocated to help rehabilitate the site, we have a unique opportunity here for some volunteer community pride and involvement. To Ms Ossenberg, the Cadet Corp, and those who have already offered to help, thanks for the leadership example and great start!
