City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 2 Mar 2023

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From YouTube: 3.2.2023 Cemetery Committee

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3.2.2023 Cemetery Committee

A

Thank you. Well, hello. Everybody glad to see you all um this is officially started, so roll call will be.

B

Start with mr griffin, michael griffin, present to balidura present uh susan starry present.

B

Sloth brooks president and carrie christine's on rubenstein, sorry, eva eva and d and dd4tion cool.

B

All right, um I'm hoping all of you, had a chance to go over all the minutes and notes from the.

B

Last three meetings: oh, we can't do anything with them right. No, we can't not officially.

C

But if anyone has any comments, I can take them back informally and when you eventually get the.

C

Opportunity, so if anyone sees anything that needs adjustment, I'd be happy, you can either.

C

Scribble me a little note and I'll take it with me, or you know that way when you do get your quorum.

C

At some point in person you can you can take action, maybe when the weather warms up in the.

C

Snowbirds come back, hopefully, okay, yeah, all right, okay, so that took care of that.

B

um Potential potential ordinance change that was also in the attachment that donna sent.

B

Out to everybody- and those of us here have it um right here in front of us.

B

I mean I'll go first. I I had. um I thought it was good.

B

But I just need clarification for me because I'm always getting it mixed up in my head.

B

Three three, two years thereafter, two all boys about the quorum part. Where is the quorum.

C

um So the quorum would be half so if we changed it to 7 to 11 members, then we'd be okay with a.

C

Quorum, if there are seven members, then the quorum would be four okay. That would be a lot easier to.

C

Me, because we have four today and we usually do have four we usually do have four. So um you.

C

Know if it turned out that you wound up having all 11 members, then the quorum would be half of.

C

11 and five six: you need six right so depends how many members, but it's it's- has to be that.

C

Just over half understood so the second part of that is once if we go down and prove this and go.

B

Down to that number, then that means like the four of us could vote, but they could also have input.

B

Too right anybody on zoom, that's the the beauty is once you have the in-person quorum. You can then.

C

Have people by phone or other members by phone and zoom and they can vote just like everyone.

C

Else once you have that magic number of quorum in person, then they can fully participate. You just.

C

Have to have the critical number at least right now under new hampshire law, there's continuing.

C

Consideration at the state house of legislation that might allow more flexibility like we have now.

C

Because we have a if, if we were allowed to count the three people on zoom, we would have our quorum.

C

Of seven, but we are not allowed to do that right now under new hampshire law. But it's something.

C

You know sue senator cuoca had been working on with some other senators and that's still.

C

Pending, I don't, I haven't, checked, legislatively whether it's still active and might have a chance.

C

But precisely for reasons like this, um but for now we need that magic number in person.

C

um And what I would what I would suggest, because we've had such trouble making quorum um if.

C

You know in the ideal world you would have a vote of the committee to send this change to the.

C

Governance committee for consideration before it goes up to the city council, um but there.

C

Is nothing to limit the authority of the chair so to speak, to say, hey! This is what we've been.

C

Discussing we haven't had a quorum to formally act, but I'd like to take it to the governance.

C

Committee, for you know some consideration before. Hopefully we get a quorum and then could send it.

C

Right to city council, so um so that that's kind of my thinking is that the chair could.

C

Take it to the next governance committee and just say: we've been working on this.

C

Because we're having trouble making quorum, do you have any feedback.

C

For the cemetery committee before we take it to city council, that would be good. So that's.

C

My thought: does anyone have any suggestions or questions about this particular ordinance.

B

Before I suggest yeah and okay- oh so, do we start from ground zero with alternating appointments.

D

Experience so what it, what bob sullivan I thought artfully drafted is that.

C

um He had in language in here or actually maybe it was in. No, I think it's on here too yeah yeah.

C

um That you know there's additional language. Maybe I didn't print off the right one to attach to the.

C

um He just didn't want all of the terms to expire at the same time, right exactly.

A

Yeah, so it is the first four members appointed after adoption.

C

Will be for three year terms right right, then all other appointments going forward.

C

Are two-year terms, so that's how you get the status yeah yep. I knew it was here somewhere.

C

Yeah and then he's got the language in here that says um the terms of the existing members.

C

Are terminated but the mayor shall thereafter reappoint the members of the committee until.

C

All existing members have been offered the opportunity for reappointment, so it's like.

C

If you'd like to continue just let the mayor, you know, fill out the application and the mayor can.

C

Move it forward and give all of the existing members first crack it coming back. So.

C

um So I thought that was good. Obviously it doesn't. We've done a lot of work and.

C

It would be nice to have you guys stop everybody continue to do that exactly so. The current term.

D

Of the original members will expire december if we make no other changes, but they could.

C

Adopt this you know it depends on what how fast you want this to go, but this could move forward.

C

In the next couple of months, and then we just very carefully so there isn't a big gap of time.

C

Get you all reappointed so that you don't all cycle off in december. You know.

B

Well, I mean I yeah, I think that's a this looks perfect to me and it will keep us it'll sustain us.

D

Right, otherwise, and and we and since we can still meet and discuss things, it doesn't hamper us too.

B

Much on not right now with all the different things that are already in progress anyway, so.

B

That don't need to be reapproved, so so I'm happy to work with sue to get this to the governance.

C

Committee and in her capacity as chair saying, this is something we've been discussing since.

C

We can't vote vote um and she can get feedback if they have any. I think I think they're going to.

C

Be very pleased that you're working to you know make this a a board that works more effectively.

C

For you so right and and they just I don't know if they finished reviewing everything but they're.

B

In the process of doing it now too, so, yes, I will, then I would request that we could at least have.

B

This reviewed for feedback from the governance committee and see what their suggestions or what.

B

What they think of it so so I'll work with you on that. Okay, we'll do a communication to the.

C

Chair, okay, all right next one um status of current projects: we've got quite a few going on out there.

B

Well, could I let me before you get into the complicated ones um the door at um at.

B

Cotton cemetery is back in and it looks beautiful. So if you're on south street.

B

Ride by and it stands out and andy crota did a really good job on it, so good that.

B

um The other ones look really bad so which I knew that might be anyway, but he is going to give me.

B

Estimates and things like that, and that's just something to put on the list because two of the.

B

One of the big doors are wooden and they were just something someone did a long time ago, just to.

E

Have something you know: cover cover the space and then uh another small one, but my other concern is.

B

um When I really took the time to read up there, um I think it's henry cotton, the gentleman who the.

B

Cemetery's family donated and everything he's there and he's one of the small doors and the.

B

Door is not ready to come off, but it's rusted and needs to be repainted, so a couple of them are just.

B

You know repainting and cleaning the stone around them and then there's a.

B

Big double door and a small but again that's down the line, but he's going to give us some.

B

Quotes on that, so if we come up with funds or nothing to do we can we can. um I spoke to my.

D

Brother in our lifetimes we're not aware that there were steel doors on oh, really, not aware.

D

May have been at one time, but not in my lifetime right, so we can do well. This is a coat of pain if.

D

This is two years down the road right and the other two steel doors need to be brushed so.

B

I'll talk, dick adams into doing that. Oh okay, um okay, and also we didn't mention that inside the.

B

um Door that we repaired had repaired michael couldn't speak to this. He saw.

B

What was inside of there, the the memorial stones or the there appears to be eight.

D

Government-Sized marker stones in the side of that door entrance there could be no way of.

D

Determining any names or just stacked one on top of each other, and they weigh about.

D

200 pounds a piece yeah: how old are they there's? No, those government markers that's within the last.

D

50 years wow, so I don't know who they belong to and why they're in there so so again that.

B

Just gone on the list of yeah, we stumble across right, I think we're entire identify who they are.

D

Well, at least like the top one. So that's another thing on the the do list in repair, not repair, but.

B

A little bit of research, or if any of you hear something, then you know maybe we can follow up.

B

With it again, it's not on the top of the list, but just out there then at cloud field, you.

B

Know the cemetery is here and then there is a slope right here. Well much to my surprise,.

B

um What three weeks ago the city came and they cleared all the underbrush that was on that.

B

Hill and there's eight huge piles and they are bonfire piles each and every one of them that.

B

Came down so when you look at that embankment now you don't just see all this crud. You actually see.

B

The cemetery, because your focus now is you're looking over there and all these nice trees.

B

And you can see the stone wall and you can see headstones, so um it it it's just like you have.

B

To see it, it just makes it like a real new england cemetery view of that, and the other plus side is.

B

Rocks from the one section that is knocked over the rocks are on the side of the hill.

B

So to repair that wall, to put it back together again, it's not going to be easy. Getting the rocks.

B

Up but it's a dry stack anyway: the rocks are there or they should say boulders they're, not.

B

Quite boulders, so that was a pleasant surprise and um something that was unexpected. But because we.

B

Had no snow up into that point, they sent people over there to take care of it and plus it was.

B

I mean not horrendous fire problem, but if all that dead wood underneath had caught fire.

B

It doesn't take long, you know [music] to have something more severe happen, so so.

B

That project was done. Those are the two two that were totally completed.

B

Now suzanne can tell us about that: moose plate and the sea wall that we have going.

C

um So we have a meeting scheduled next wednesday. I think it is with the potential contractor to.

C

Do the walk do the work for the repair of that wall? The engineer outside engineer that would.

C

Be involved, city staff me sue will come and we're going to kind of do a coordination meeting, because.

C

We're at the point where you know we're starting to we're getting the estimates we're trying to.

C

Figure out how to get down there effectively make sure we've dotted all the eyes across.

C

The t's so there's some coordination that needs to be done and that's really where we are right.

C

Now, I'm working to make sure we have all the funds continue to be set aside for the matching portion.

C

Or the parts that exceed the twenty thousand dollar grant funds that we're getting from the.

C

Moose plate grant program, we've got the first 10 000 in it has hit the city coffers so to speak, and.

C

Then the remaining 10 would come after the work is completed, so that is happening. We have the signage.

C

That will go up to indicate that it's a moose plate grant funded project. Once we get going.

C

So that's kind of where that stands well. Has the contractor been selected.

C

Well, we've got that estimate from pickering, so we're just gonna, because there aren't really a.

C

Lot of contractors going on: let's do this and they're the they're yeah, so.

C

um Where we haven't inked the contract yet, but that's why the coordination meeting to.

C

Make sure we know who's doing what and that we've got all the pieces covered.

C

um And I think they're still trying to get us the final permitting number, which is why.

C

The engineer is going to be there to see how big that scope of permitting will do.

D

um You'll discuss the access at that point, yep yep, because that's the tricky one of the biggest.

C

Parts yeah, yeah and sue had some original reach out with potentially working with.

C

Saw the some of the butters in terms of access and we kind of back and forth. So I thought you.

C

Know what sometimes email is not the best way to do things at some point. It's like. Let's get.

C

Everyone in a room and let's pull up the plan and kind of sort it out and just so you know.

B

The reason like I'll be going to this meeting that I would anticipate I wouldn't after that.

B

Is because I I you know lined up so many of the things and talked to so many different people, but.

B

Now we have, I don't know christine's last name: it's begins with an s yeah.

B

um There's they've hired a engineer, a project engineer and now she just came on board about two.

B

Months ago, so she's now in charge of this project. Now that everything is going on so we're all just.

B

Going to get together because I've talked to so many people and other people have talked to people.

B

So we just need to let christine know. This is all the information and then from there she'll, you.

B

Know she'll be taking care of the project. She'll keep us in the loop, you know. Let us know how it's.

B

Going if we ran into anything, but that's why I'm going there, because I talk to a lot of people.

C

um And then, eventually, christine will will kind of look a little more at the the wall. At point.

C

Of graves, um so that's kind of on her plate after this kind of gets launched and got a little more.

C

Bandwidth, um so that's not falling off the plate, it's just waiting its time. So we can kick this off.

C

um What else do we have for projects? I have ordered? A corin has ordered the marker.

C

For our union cemetery for um the historic that is yep, so that has been ordered excellent.

B

um And and jimmy dumont found a eight and a half foot piece of granite that we'll.

B

Be able to use, and he um it should. I gave him the rough dimensions then they'll take it and he said.

B

They'll inset it into the piece of granite and put it in the cemetery. So that's, hopefully wrapped up.

B

And will happen somewhere along the line, so yep corn is expecting spring. We shouldn't be.

C

um And then I know we have, I think we've authorized a surveyor to go out for the hall.

C

The hall street effort- and you know taking care of the trees so making sure we know where the.

C

Boundaries are first, so that effort is underway. They might have been getting a couple of quotes.

C

um But the thought was get it well marked out yeah, so that everyone knows where the lines.

C

Are where the property lines are, and these mint is so yeah, so as soon as we have that done, then.

B

We'll coordinate uh a walk at the site with the trees in greenery and then, of course, all of us.

B

um You know can come with it too and I'll keep you posted, but that's going to be, you know, probably a.

B

Couple months out so, but it will, it will happen and and we will get to walk the property so.

B

Signs for um all the signs are going to go up in springtime as soon as current, so the.

B

um Dust to dawn sign and then the dogs yeah, it's on the same sign, yeah, yeah, right, yeah, respect.

C

The place basically yeah yep, so I think- and I want to throw out there- that eva's working on.

B

um Just today, email, the state emailed me the upcoming um outlines, when moose played and for the.

B

um L-Chip- and there is a which is state- I think they do a really good job. There are several.

B

Seminars in march sometime that we can sign eva's, already signed up for them or or the one that we.

B

Need and um so we're going to start that process, so we have some time to figure out. What's going.

B

To happen with the stone wall at at point of grace, so we've got plenty of time to get that together.

B

Don't we you're doing all the work? No? Well, you know I I don't know if this is the appropriate.

F

Time on the um on our scheduled to talk about about it, because the l-chip grant is extremely.

F

Complicated and if anyone has 40 minutes of time to give to look at the presentation that.

F

A man named george bourne did for the algebra in 2022.. You can find that on.

F

The state historical resources division website- I learned a lot from it and.

F

um I I one of the things I learned is that we have to make a determination really about how to.

F

Proceed in terms of the money that we asked for and how we're going to go about it, um and so would.

F

You, rather I curtail this, or would you rather or can I tell more about it um well, you've got.

C

Other or you've got other business under eight. You can see how you yeah. I think it would be great if.

F

Somebody else looked at it besides me, but right if it's possible, okay, what's the person's name.

F

His name is george bourne b-o-r-n, and he does the work with the help chip grant and he has a.

F

There's a video just of the explanation of how to apply for an algebra, and I want to do twice.

F

And took notes just to be sure that I understood it: yeah, okay, it's very demanded. Okay, all right.

B

All right we will, you won't you're, not alone, so.

B

um And I think that covers all the projects that we've.

B

Had going and get done, which is a lot? um What happened with the project on the that cemetery.

E

Or what is it behind peter's house cemetery? Yeah that that it's been it's being surveyed.

E

Oh okay, we haven't cleared anything or done anything. Oh no! Nothing! No did you fall asleep.

D

We just talked about it really yeah. Of course I must have just yeah. Well, it's all it's all. You.

B

Probably peaches cemetery about it, paul's cemetery, now where peter rice is taking care of having it.

B

Surveyed officially and then once that's done and marking out the lines, then the trees in greenery.

B

Are gonna walk the site and we can do that at the same time, we were talking about the l-chip grant.

B

No, it was right before that you were on your cell phone. While we were talking about gas.

E

Bad habit too, all right available funds yep. We have hundreds and thousands. I wish so.

C

um So what we've got um you'll be pleased to know. We actually do have a little fun for historic.

C

Markers so the 75 dollars, because it's now 75 not 50 for the for the marker, so we actually.

C

Have a a little fund for historic markers so that I use that fund for the for the historic marker.

C

um Not a cemetery fun, so the little trust, the historic cemetery trust. So the formal trust.

C

Funds are held by the trustees of trust funds that has four thousand one hundred and fifty.

C

Seven dollars in it and 46 cents. As of a couple of days ago, when I got the numbers and that's the.

C

Little fund that you've been using, for example, the cleaning supplies. So that's with that now.

C

For the bigger capital projects we have in capital outlay, for historic cemeteries and walls and other.

C

Infrastructure related to that we currently have 104, and that is does not reflect the fact that we.

C

Have these commitments right, for example, you know for the north cemetery back wall there, which is.

C

Why we'll kind of finalize what those commitments are once we get the final, updated estimates and.

C

Give some thought do we do permitting, as we originally thought, for the whole of the project.

C

Because we'll get some, hopefully cost savings. So that's a bigger number.

C

um I think that's probably where we might want to go, but we're going to wait and see what we.

C

Get for estimates have this coordination meeting because that might determine.

C

How much we spend out of that 104 and then, as you know, we're waiting to see what we do and.

C

Recommend for the point of graves and um and so that's that's what's in there right now and then.

C

In addition, we have about five thousand dollars in specialty donations for historic cemeteries, which.

C

Would include the donations that we got for um doing the data entry for the software, so we should.

C

Just kind of keep in mind because I know you're working with the library and other folks on that.

C

When you're ready for that data entry right, let me know and we'll get it coordinated so that we can.

C

You know hire some temp help or figure out how to do the temp help and and get.

C

Those that data entered so that's all specially segregated um and I would say some of that money.

C

um Because about 2000 is is very specific to the data entry. The other 3000 is just.

C

Historic cemeteries, probably includes carries, I think, was carrie's money. So someone who made.

C

The research donation is probably in that item right there as well right. um So, if there's more.

C

Cleaning supplies, you know it's a nice little place to go for those miscellaneous expenses.

C

um That you might see, as you come up to the 400th and you know, are trying to tackle some.

C

Of the the projects yeah um so know that there's there's money in there. So if the sailors wind up.

C

Coming to help- and we need some more materials- there's probably tap that right out, um because.

C

It's geared right for that. So oh good, because that so there's that and then of course the 10.

C

000 from the moose plate, um so so you know, we've got some money, you know to kind of work and then.

C

You know when these issues come up like the vault. You know, then we'll use the cemetery money for you.

C

Know fixing the vault door and you know there's kind of ongoing needs. So um so that's the report.

B

Thank you. um I guess this would fall, would have fallen under status of current projects.

B

Because we we said, we clean 400 headstones um and the money made me think of it.

B

So I caught in the cemetery, there is roughly um 400 headstones. um I picked the dates.

B

um In may, because may is not hot hot after last summer's experience, we could probably even do it.

B

In april, but I'm not gonna force that yeah force that, but um but I cleaned headstones right up in.

B

In november- and I cleaned some in december, so the stuff works on a decent day. It works, but anyway.

B

May the four weekends in may may 6th 13th, the 20th and the 27th and I'll I'll post. All these. I just.

B

Did it for this meeting, um I'm gonna at the end of this month or I don't want to go out too far.

B

um To ask, but I'm going to approach d-a-r the elks, the friends of the.

B

South end- um and we are officially the city for the people from the cheyenne.

B

um I didn't want to start that process yet either until I knew exactly you know,.

B

When and where and how much and then also I'll contact people that we did, that helped.

B

All last summer, I have um a spreadsheet with all their names and email addresses.

B

um uh Sometime in the next two weeks, I'm gonna sit down with corn. We already talked about it and.

B

Go over what the supplies are. We found out some better things to use um cleaning for the purpose.

B

That will last longer we went through a lot of the bottles and things like that, and there were.

B

Some bottles that were better than other, we have quite a few gallons, but we need more d2 anyway. So.

B

um And, of course, all of you, whoever can make it during those dates. You know more than welcome.

B

To come, I and then for the summer um with this, I don't have a sense of the cheyenne.

B

But it's possible with the cheyenne helping us that we may not even need all these dates. We.

B

Don't have once cotton is clean, all we have left is union and the backside of north. So.

B

um Which is fantastic, so we may not even need all these states, but saturday june, the 10th.

B

Saturday july, the 8th, I think the 10th might be market square day. Is it it's? The second.

E

Saturday or I forget about them, because I don't go, oh so it's gonna be the 10th.

E

um All right I'll find another day second saturday in june, which is the 10th.

E

So we'll be busy in town okay, so I will find what's what's the date before the.

B

um Or the weekend after is fine 17th all right june, the 17th, and so then I'll push back. What july.

B

Was the weekend after july, the 8th, please sorry, oh I have my calendar. What am I doing? Yeah? I know I'm.

B

um So you'll have to you'll have to look up joy.

B

Yeah july the 8th is the week of fourth of july, so we'll I'll push it back to july. The 15th.

B

And then one two three, I don't my august. Hopefully we august will be the end of it so august. The 5th.

B

And then um september 9th and october 7th, but I don't anticipate we may be done by.

B

um At the end of august, so it should be really great. So did you just for my notes? Did you adjust.

C

The day in june or yes june, the 17th, okay and july, the 15th okay thanks we'll do that now is.

E

That just cleaning or cleaning and repeating no just cleaning just cleaning anything new on the.

E

Repair side of it yeah. Well, I shouldn't yes, the next after so that's it for the projects that.

B

Are going on I'll, I will let everybody know um and again, if any of you have any organizations.

B

That you're, a part of that you know you're more than welcome to approach them and say.

B

Come clean, it's not hard, have fun and we'll give you free water, [laughter].

B

Bottle so straight and repairing headstones, I am, I don't know if peter rice spoke to you or not about.

B

This I contacted the state, got back to me and said um no problem, we're not um the state architect. I.

B

Mean archaeologists said no, if we're just digging right around headstones to straighten them. There's.

B

No problem, we can do it um and then uh the other person about repairing the headstones she wrote.

B

Back and said, um we have no problem with you. Repairing just consult john john lord and I said.

B

We're already ahead of you, because john lord has been our mentor with this whole project, so I let.

B

Karen know that- and he said he was going to talk to peter- to get the okay, because these are the.

B

Kinds of things that it wouldn't be a big group, we would probably try. I talked to michael about this.

B

I mean you need two people to you, know: sort of straighten the headstone and even repair it. So we.

B

We could do teams, and- and this doesn't have to be done on a saturday as long as people are trained.

B

We would still have some sort of commitment down the line as to when, but the important thing is to.

B

Get the okay from peter reassure them that we're not going to find any bones, and um I mean that's.

B

A real concern, but the state's okay with us doing that, so I mean I take it seriously as far as if we.

B

Came across something we would stop, but chances are in these two situations are pretty low, so.

B

um So as soon as we've heard back from peter that he would bless this, then we'll start working on.

B

Trying to get a few teams together and set some dates and decide what our project areas are. So you.

B

Know we might just want to just try to straighten this year and then next year, head for repairing.

B

Because I'm not sure how easy it is to repair out in the field, if you can't take them out so.

B

So that's where we stand with that right now so yeah. I I think what we I'll follow up with peter.

C

But it may be that we just develop a really clear protocol and we know in advance who the teams are.

C

Exactly and you know so, we'll I'll work with peter on that and we'll kind of report back before we.

C

Get too far along well, that's what I mean I wasn't going to try to do anything until peter and my.

B

Thought was, we will train people and then come up with dates in in exactly where we might start.

B

Doing that, so everybody would be, you know clear what we're doing wouldn't just be willy-nilly, so.

B

So that's where we stand with that, which I think is great because a year ago you know.

B

It was really no, you shouldn't do that, and now I think a lot of it has to do that. We've proven that.

B

We're just not a wild bunch of people, not knowing what we're doing, which makes a big difference and.

B

I know the words gotten around the state to various towns about what we're doing and how.

B

Big, this project is down here, so we've gotten some really good um publicity out there in the.

B

Cemetery restoration in a community which is where we're going to get all our help anyway, so.

B

So that's that, um let's see what do I have on here and I've talked to john lord he's more.

B

More he's excited actually more than willing to be a part of helping with the training house, so.

B

um We've already talked about talking, that's it. I don't have anything else.

B

um That's virgin, or going on, I mean I, I sort of feel like we're. Wrapping up the.

B

First year and now, with the grants and looking forward, we're starting the second year round of.

B

Projects that we can do- and some of them are small and easy, and we can do them.

B

You know quite a few, so oh the database, I I'll update. I just finished doing union cemetery.

B

And the last alphabet alphabetical name for union. His name is james white and.

B

He was buried in 1853.. I probably will never forget his name when I get there.

B

um And I'm going to start, I've already started on the database for north.

B

But as suzanne said, I'm going to check with um uh the library this week I haven't heard.

B

Anything from uh from katie and as soon as I know that the database is up and it's functioning with.

B

The information that we have then I'll start looking for someone to input for.

B

The other cemeteries that the fifteen hundred dollars came for, but I don't really want to do.

B

That until we know that it's up and running so the most important thing was to get all.

B

Our cemeteries up there, so I should have union done. I mean north done in a couple of days, so.

B

um So that's the update on that. So does anybody have anything there? Yes, under public comment, I.

D

Believe yeah I'd like to state for the record that the portsmouth lodge of elks recently conducted.

D

What we call our meat and lobster raffle, but basically it's a charitable function that we.

D

Conduct once a month at the lodge in our veterans committee had requested the funds from last our.

D

Last one, which would been two weeks ago, yeah two sundays ago, we raised over two thousand dollars.

D

Which will be used in conjunction with wreaths across america and reefs across new hampshire.

D

Which, I believe is december, 15th yeah, don't quote me on that and we will be laying wreaths on all.

D

Of the revolutionary war heroes buried here in portsmouth, it's really cool. We have the funds.

D

Available to do that and and then some and then one step beyond that, I we as elks have.

D

A function once a year where we recognize individuals within the lodge for their.

D

Contributions elk of the year officer of the year and citizen of the year.

D

In this year, sue who was a member of the portsmouth lodge of alex was our award.

D

Nominee award recipient of portsmouth elk citizen of the year for all the work that she has done.

C

Congratulations, that's awesome on behalf of this committee. Thank you. Thank you for mentioning that.

B

um I mean the elks: have there have been a number of elks at every single cleaning that we do so.

B

They've contributed a lot to the headstone cleaning and I get questions all the time.

B

You know when are we starting again, so um thank you for telling them to have michael um and again.

B

Alex have been a big part of this, and actually I talked to the new um or the person that's coming.

B

In as the exalted ruler- and we are even going to start a cemetery committee, what we're going.

B

To do or how we're going to do it or anything I don't know, but it's something that there are so.

B

Many elks that are interested in this that we thought we should at least start something and.

B

And let it roll from there so we may have you know additional people to help out or committed to our.

B

Cemeteries, which is really what it's all about, so if we lose our cemeteries, we lose our history and.

B

And that's all I'm going to say: that's very good yeah say is anybody. That's been lost already well.

B

Yeah I mean we can't I and I don't know just for general information, since we have a few minutes.

B

I found out about a family cemetery that was buried um under a road right over.

B

It's not mcdonough street, but rock street is it by by the north mill pond. um uh There was.

B

A big family estate there and a lot of their they buried. This is back 16, late 1600s to the 1700s and.

B

um Tom heidemann from the um anthony told me about this. He said: do you know about the fuller.

B

um Family cemetery being buried since anew, but I did some research and it we don't know where.

B

The headstones are other than that. It's just one, more cemetery that you know was lost to progress.

B

They built a where the heinemann building is right now or the old heinemann building.

B

um All that land back to the waterfront was all a part of a big estate, a beautiful estate and on.

B

There, their their family members were buried and when they were putting a road in someone.

B

Used a headstone from 16 something and just used it for filler when they were covering up the water.

B

Piping, this is in the 1800s, and someone came to ask about it um from boston and the guy was.

B

Still alive, he goes, oh yeah I'll show you he went there. This is in rambles with fort smith,.

B

um And he dug it up and it was in fuller, I believe from 1692 or something like that. So.

B

I mean views of cemetery and headstones and everything have changed over the years so but.

D

We just learned that, as the dna analysis of the body that was recovered in sanford maine.

D

So it wasn't that uncommon up until maybe the 19th late 50s right that removing and relocating.

D

Family burial plots was was a normal course of business. Yeah.

E

Probably right over it's a whole thing in time: wow yeah yeah- I I know that so but the point.

B

Of both of those is that um that's why you know, I think the committee is important and whatever work.

B

We can do to restore cemeteries, is not in vain. I mean they're going to be around for a lot longer.

B

Maybe not 300 years from now or what have you but bone-in ribeye tonight, oh yeah, all right! If no one.

A

Else has any comments or input, or is this a the lodge warwick club? Oh? So all right. uh Thank you.

B

Everybody and since this isn't a formal meeting, we'll talk to you all later, thanks for coming.