Work continues on Thornloe cemetery
Work continues on the upgrades to the Thornloe Pioneer Cemetery.
The cemetery is shared between the Village of Thornloe and the Township of Hilliard and is located on Highway 569 east of Thornloe.
The cemetery, which contains the graves of some early pioneers and children, as well as more recent graves, dates back to the early 20th century.
Clerk-treasurer Trish Addison related in an interview at the village hall that brush had started growing up around some of the stones on the edge of the cemetery.
There are also headstones that need to be straightened or have become damaged over the years, she said.
Clearing has been taking place.
"We're just trying to find money to complete the rest," she said.
"We want to do at least one additional bench, but fencing is the big issue. The concern is snowmobilers in the wintertime. When the snow comes you can't even tell that's a cemetery."
She explained that the original fencing had to be removed because it was becoming tangled up with brush.
She expressed appreciation for donations which have been coming in, and for the volunteers, including those on council, and the work of Village Reeve Wayne Miller who "has been the number one guy working up there."
Another project that has been discussed is for a volunteer from council "to go through the records and mark all the unmarked graves."
She outlined that the council envisions having "simple crosses and plaques made up and mark all the graves that were never marked or lost their stones over time."
She said the municipality has "pretty good records on the cemetery so that's one of our initiatives."
First, though, is installing fencing.
"We're still deciding on fencing and we have to look at what's most cost effective," Addison said.
She said council wants "something that looks nice to show it the respect it deserves."
Darlene Wroe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker
