Dedication of New Cemetery

JORDAN, WELLS, STEVER, AVERILL

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 1/30/2005 at 23:42:32

Fairfield Ledger
June 23, 1870
Page 3 col. 3

DEDICATION – The public generally are invited to attend the dedication of the new Cemetery, on next Tuesday, June 28th, at 3 o’clock p. m. on the grounds. Exercises suitable to the occasion will be followed by reading of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and report of the cost of the grounds and improvements to date. The plans and purposes of the Association are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, and the citizens of the town and surrounding country will then be invited to help carry them out.
If the day is stormy, the exercises will take place the first pleasant afternoon, at the same hour.

The New Cemetery, - At our request, we have been furnished with the following particulars in regard to the laying out of the new cemetery grounds, for publication. The information therein contained is so full, and the suggestions so pertinent that we feel like endorsing them in toto. To Captain CLEMENT JORDAN our citizens should feel under lasting obligations for the indefatigable manner in which he has worked to secure this new cemetery. When others became disheartened and were willing to give the matter over, he preserved (sic. persevered), and the result is, we have a naturally beautiful place rendered still more attractive by the hand of man. The grounds will be still further adorned and embellished, and while to the gentlemen who form the association we tender the thanks of the public, the citizens should take a deep and lasting interest in our new cemetery.

In this connection we would say that the City Council authorized the Sexton of the old grave yard to clean the walks and the Potter’s Field, trim up the trees and remove those that are unsightly, and make the grave yard as attractive as possible.

Persons who have lots will be showing additional respect to the dead, and do a service to the public, by removing the rubbish from the lots and making them less repulsive than many now are:

FAIRFIELD EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION. –
About one year ago a few of our citizens feeling the necessity of either enlarging our present cemetery grounds, or procuring ground to establish another, determined to exert themselves to that end.

They have succeeded in obtaining about thirteen or fourteen acres lying east and north of the old grounds, which is now neatly fenced, cleared up and in progress of further improvement.
An association has been formed under our general incorporation law – to be perpetual in its existence, provision being made for succession in its stockholders by its articles of incorporation. The entire grounds are to be ornamented and improved as fast as possible, and the intention of the association is to make the grounds an ornament to the city, not only now, but for all time to come. – To accomplish this the entire proceeds from the sale of lots is to be used. First, in paying for the grounds, the improvements already made, and such as are now in progress. Second, to make such further improvement as may be required; finally to devote all surplus for a permanent fund, the interest of which, it is to be hoped, will keep the grounds in repair perpetually. These are the general purposes proposed. The articles of incorporation now on file at the Recorder’s office, will give further particulars. A plan of the grounds has been adopted, which may be seen at the store of WELLS, STEVER and AVERILL.

The officers for the present year are:
President – Capt. Clement JORDAN
Treasury – Geo. A. WELLS
Secretary – Geo. STEVER,
Directors – Wm. II. JORDAN, N.S. AVERILL.

While our citizens have frequently been moved at the unsightly appearance of the old cemetery grounds, and about once a year made a call for all to turn out en masse to clean and fix up the grounds, can any one say that at any time they would not be ashamed of the appearance of our cemetery?

Would it not be a good plan for our city authorities to give the new association a liberal yearly sum to take the old grounds in their care, allowing them full control of the same? This is for our citizens to say.
Can’t we get up a little general pride and ambition on this subject, and have grounds that we will make attractive as a “last resting place” for ourselves and, “those who have gone before.”

*Transcribed verbatim from the original published entry. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.