Fundraising - Fall 2008
From the "Silent City"
Columbarium Fund(Raised to Date)
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Another season has come and gone here at the Cemetery – the grass had a great year and it kept the grounds crew very busy. Although we did not receive any grant money from the Federal Government for a Summer Student, the Board worked very hard to ensure that we had a summer student. Mallory Austin joined us for another summer at the Cemetery – she has fallen in love with the old place and is right at home in our gardens and grounds. I was very lucky that Mallory was able to split her time between the gardens and the office and many of you benefited from Mallory’s overall appreciation for the cemetery operation. We wish Mallory well in her studies and hope that she will be back next year.
We made time for some large projects – this summer Old Survey in particular to the west of the Sunset Gates is much straighter today – Dexter and his crew have straightened many of the old marble slabs, and some needed new bases and others just a gentle hand and some soil packed around the base. We worked through the cemetery with the tip testing and re-puttied a large number of stone. Three spires will be laid down in the Old Survey section waiting for foundations next year. The Nolan Monument in Section G and the North Monument in Section C both had the balls put back on top. Then it became a matter of excavation and elevation. Dexter got the ball to ground level with the Cemetery equipment but we had Elgin Monuments give us a lift putting the ball on top of the monument.
For Plots, Markers, Niches, Monuments, Inscriptions, Restoration and Flowers or General Grounds keeping of your plot -- we can help with all your needs St. Thomas Remembers
On Remembrance Day–2008 St. Thomas Remembers will be placing 1500 flags on the graves of veterans in five cemeteries We have an opening on the Board for a dedicated interested plot holder - if you are interested -applications are available at the office. Our Historic Moment
Elizabeth Grace Hall Thornton Veteran School Teacher For nearly half a century, Mrs. Thornton was one of the most respected school teachers in St. Thomas. There was not a happier little girl born in Devonshire, Elizabeth Grace Hall Thornton, believed of herself. Elizabeth landed in Quebec at seven years of age, she came by boat to Hamilton then to London on the Great Western Railroad and then a wagon to St. Thomas. Elizabeth Grace Hall Thornton had taught infant classes at Wellington, Manitoba, Balaclava and Scott St. Schools for 48 years when she retired. |
Our Flower Packages for 2008 have been a great success.
We will continue the program for 2009 see the enclosed forms.
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This is your cemetery. It is owned by the Lot Holders. St. Thomas Cemetery Company owns both South Park and St. Thomas Cemetery West Ave.
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Winter Wreaths
$25.00
We will place them for you
Contact us today
Message from the Chair
Each year, as a Board, we strive to make the most of the dollars that we have available. We have employed what we feel are the best staff for the cemetery and enacted the safest policies and practices as possible.
We face many challenges each year – people live longer and life expectancy has shifted, the average age has changed from 36 to 46 years old. Added to this increased longevity, there were 30% less babies born between 1925 and 1930. So from that we can see that the death rate isn’t likely to increase over the next decade. It looks like we are going to be alive a long time – we should live life well.
As sad as it seems to talk about death in these terms they do affect the budget process of the Cemetery. St. Thomas has been hit with many job losses this year and the whole economic picture is not good.
We set goals for the Cemetery on a five-year basis – we lowered our request for an Operating grant to the City by 2.5% each year over the last two year. This has equated to the need of increasing our revenue by 5% each year while maintaining growth and still continuing to provide the same level of service to you, the families that we serve. As a Board, it had been felt, that we have maintained our service level and still managed to achieve some much needed work in the cemetery.
The Board has taken great pride in the changes that the last ten years have brought to the cemetery. We have built the Columbarium Walk at West Ave with the eye to generating revenue and adding to the space that the cemetery has – we cannot thank you enough for the support that you have shown through your donations. You have truly been philanthropic.
We set some large goals for the future, first we need a new office – that is equipped to provide even more services to you – the office at West Ave is stretched to the seams. We need to look 100 years down the road and decide where the next Cemetery will be, and plan for the next generations as was done for us with the purchase of South Park Cemetery in 1912. We need younger people to take an interest in the Cemetery and sit on the Board of Directors. This is our Cemetery owned by each and every one of us – the Plot Holders. Together, we will make a difference and we will be the Cemetery, who matters most!
Terry Shackelton
A picture is worth a thousand words
Stroll through the Cemetery 2008
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Sec H – by the Mausoleum |
Sec G – right near the office |
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Alford Monument – Old Survey |
Alford Monument Restored |
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Tree Maintenance is necessary but doesn’t always prevent this – by Wilson Ave and the Old Park House |
Fall Colours have come to the Cemetery. All the trees are magnificent. |
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Miller in Old Survey gets a new foundation |
The McBane Family paid to have the top replaced – it has been missing for years. |
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The garden by the strangers and babies is the feeding ground for many bees and birds |
Looking down on the cemetery – Thank you Shahna Hopper for the pictures |
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Looking down on the Blocks – Shahna’s photo and we have many more!!! |
The walking path at South Park |
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New gates at the South Entrance to South Park Cemetery – wow is that snow in October???? |
Konvicted Photography supplied this picture of a cross at South Park |
