The Community Foundation of Otsego County has recently awarded eight projects from its Cemetery Restoration Fund to support preservation and historic renovation in small cemeteries.
The cemeteries awarded funds are: Harmony Cemetery, Morris; Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown; Huntley Cemetery, Plainfield; Exeter Cemetery, Exeter; Westville Cemetery, Westville; Milford Cemetery, Milford; Laurens Village Cemetery, Laurens; and Draper Hill Cemetery, Westford.
In Harmony Cemetery, tree removal is underway along with repair, resetting and cleaning of the stones. The headstones will be cleaned and stone steps repaired on the Ryerson plot in Cooperstown’s Lakewood Cemetery. Improvements to Huntley Corners include the scraping, cleaning and repainting of a historic wrought iron fence and a replacement for the old, weathered sign.
Exeter Cemetery will clean, reassemble and provide new foundations for nine headstones in the oldest section of the cemetery, while the Westville Cemetery had a restoration of gateposts, gates and the cemetery sign.
Milford Cemetery plans to mark every Revolutionary War veteran’s grave with permanent signage and to conduct walking tours. Laurens Village and Draper Hill cemeteries are focusing on veterans as well. Six veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil wars will have stones and markers at the Laurens location; a walkway to Westford’s Draper Hill site leads to a number of Revolutionary War veterans.
For more information about donating to the Cemetery Restoration Fund, go to: https://cfotsego.org/fund/otsego-county-cemetery-restoration-fund-foi/
