The Cemetery in the Woods - April 4, 2000

"May They Rest in Peace"

The angels have been busy in the Cemetery in the Woods the past few weeks. They've pointed us in the direction of hidden and buried tombstones, and they've been in there pushing and pulling with us as we bring those stones back to their intended positions. They've helped us find mislaid tools and kept us safe as we work to bring renewed life to this hallowed place. In fact, there is one sitting beside me now as I try to compose this letter to all of you. We haven't mentioned the angels before because we were not certain they were there, but we are certain of it now. So many things are happening so fast with the project that we must be receiving a special push from above. The beautiful weather since we began comes to mind as a great example. The dedicated work crew is another. We found some stones yesterday and it rained last night to wash them off. So many pieces of this giant puzzle are falling into place, and those of us who are working on the project sometimes have to stand back and watch it happen. It is truly amazing.

New names to be added to our lists

In the past couple of weeks a number of stones have been stood upright, and several unknown stones have come to light. Stones found yesterday, Monday, April 3rd, include that of Edward Buggy, age 5 years, who died in 1880. This stone was found between the much larger stones of Dennis and Rose Cannan, brother and sister. We can only speculate that Edward must have been a relative of the Cannans. More stones remain to be dug up and re-erected. We'll tell you about them when we know more. The oldest of the newly found stones was that of James Kirby who died in 1877, just two years after the cemetery was established. He was born in Waterford County, Ireland in 1822 and was 55 years old when he died. Mr. Kirby was a founding member of Sacred Heart parish and was one of the two donors of the land on which the present church was built. Another recent discovery was the military style stone of Richard McNamara, a Civil War veteran who served in Company G, 95th Infantry Regiment. He enlisted in the Union Army in September of 1861 and was discharged in June of 1865. More research is planned to determine the year of his death. His stone was found under a fallen tree. It was a real surprise when we found this one. All of us working on this project are doing so because we feel we're helping right a wrong from a long time ago. When something like this stone turns up, that's verification that we're doing the right thing. In a way, we feel it's like a reward for our efforts. We're still wondering about the inscription on the stone of William Eccles which was recently stood upright after many years of lying on its face. The stone reads 'Williams Eccles, born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland. Died February 4, 1890 at Tower City, PA. Age 42 years.' The stone had been erected by Eccles' brother Thomas. I've never seen one like this that included the place of death when it was only three miles away.

New stones in the old cemetery

Members of the committee have been discussing the possibility of putting new stones in the Cemetery in the Woods in honor of those buried there. At the time many of our predecessors were buried, there often was no money with which to buy tombstones. A few were said to have had wooden markers, but these either deteriorated over time or were consumed in a forest fire. In many cases, there are individuals and families buried there with no evidence of such other than a name or names on a list. So you might consider placing a new stone at the cemetery in honor of your loved ones buried there. If you'd like to discuss this further, please contact Marty Brennan at 647- 4716, or Pat Bettinger at 647-2226.

Monument dealer to assist us

Todd Evans, owner of Evans Monuments in Sheridan, has generously agreed to work with us on repairing and resetting the tombstones. He has visited the cemetery and is familiar with the problems to be overcome. We'll have more to report on this in the near future.

Variety of wood for sale

In clearing away the cemetery we have accumulated a large pile of wood. We are offering this wood for a donation towards our project. There are several types of wood represented. You can pick and choose; you don't have to take it all. Please call Marty if you have any interest in stocking up.

Donors listed

Donations to the project have been coming in ever since we announced that we're able to accept them. We'll be listing names of donors here and in future editions of the bulletin. Thank you most sincerely to:

Don and Nancy McGeary of Harrisburg Dicko and Joyce Dolan (2 donations) Steve and Mary Ellen Bettinger Pastorkovich of Mechanicsburg Jim and Beth Bettinger Stagdon of Fairbanks, Alaska Leo and Donna Bettinger of Fairbanks, Alaska Thom Bettinger of Harrisburg Paul and Roseanne Bettinger Walters of Carlisle Mary Bettinger Thomas and Teresa McNamara of Exeter Roy and Peanut Frantz Joe and Helen Shuey Tid and Ruth Fitzpatrick Bob and Kay Kavanaugh Murdy of Hacienda Heights, California Captain Bob Carl of Allentown The Challengers - Boots, Bernie, Jack, Sis, Babe, and Helen

Donations take all forms, and come in all sizes and shapes, and we are extremely grateful for them. Les Kimmel of the Meadowbrook Coal Co. has delivered several large truckloads of shale to fill in the deep holes on the roadway to the cemetery. Alicia and Ron Deibert, owners of Ripps Country Deli, have loaned us their loader to spread and level the shale. Ed Welker, owner of the car wash on the highway, has donated a supply of tokens so that volunteers are able to wash their vehicles once they emerge from the woods. These were all generous donations, and we thank each and every one of you. Please drop your donations in the collection basket or address your them to: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 140 E. Market Street, Williamstown, Pa 17098, and mark on the memo line - Cemetery in the Woods Project. Thank you all for your help and support. As you can see from our donor list, a lot of support has come from out of town. So please send this bulletin to your out-of-town family and friends.

CITW to be on TV

Several weeks ago, Jerry Trently of WHP spent several days with us in the woods, one day lifting, cutting, dragging, and burning brush and trees. Another day he came to videotape the crew at work with plans to show it on TV. It will air tonight, Sunday, at 10PM on UPN 15 and at 11PM on WHP TV 21.

Kay Murdy's website

Kay Kavanugh Murdy from California was one of our donors as mentioned above. She is a first cousin to Mary Bettinger, Vince McNamara, and Mae Michalko, all of our parish. Some of you may remember Sara Kavanaugh Savage and Rose Kavanaugh McNamara from town. Their little brother Bill was Kay's father. Kay has a website devoted to weekday and Sunday readings of the liturgy. If you have internet access, please check out her site, www.daily-word-of-life.com.

Cemetery in the Woods website

The Bettinger Boys, Leo and Pat, have been working late at night putting together a website specifically for the Cemetery in the Woods. It's still in its infant stages, but it's an ideal way to keep up with progress at the cemetery. Visit our site and tell your friends and family in far off places to check out http://www.bettinger.com/cemetery/. It'll be a work in progress, and we'll be adding new pictures and updates regularly.

Captain Carl writes

Another name from our donor list might sound familiar to you. Captain Bob Carl is originally from the area and he has relatives buried in the CITW. Captain Carl used to write the history column for the Pottsville Republican on a regular basis. He now lives in Allentown and likes to keep up-to-date with the happenings of our area. His address is Captain Bob Carl, 940 S. 24th St., Allentown, 18103-3706.

Palm Sunday in the woods

We had previously announced that the May They Rest in Peace Committee would meet on Palm Sunday, April 16th, at 2 p.m. at the cemetery. This is still true, and an abbreviated meeting will be held, but we are inviting the entire community to come visit the cemetery that day. American Legion Post 239 has offered us the use of their van to shuttle visitors from the borough complex to the cemetery and back again. So come and see what we've been up to, and what we're still up against. Park your car at the borough complex and we'll pick you up and return you to your car after your visit. While we're on the subject, does anyone have a van to help us that day in shuttling visitors in case of a large turnout? Contact Pat or Marty if you can help. Please figure on spending at least a half hour at the cemetery. Our volunteer workers will be there to explain what we've been doing and to show you around. We hope to have a display of artifacts that have turned up there as well.

Help is still needed

There is still much work to do at the cemetery. We are there every Sunday afternoon and most evenings beginning at about 3:30 or so until dark. If you'd like to help and can't be there at those times, we can use your skills and muscle any time of the day. Dave Underkoffler works second shift so whenever he has the chance, he works at the cemetery in the mornings. Tom Cooper stopped by one Sunday, saw what we were doing, and then came back the next day and cut us a pile of stuff. You can help in the same way too. Just let us know when you can be there and we'll show you what needs to be done. We scheduled a workday last Saturday because some members of the parish said they'd come help whenever we had a workday. One fellow showed up, and he wasn't even a catholic. So we won't be scheduling any more workdays like that. We need your help, and you know where to find us.

Visitors aplenty

Many people have heard about the project and have made the trek into the woods to see it for themselves. It is always good to see folks taking such an interest in what we're trying to accomplish. A lot of our visitors are not members of our church, but they feel the same way you and I feel, that we're all God's children, and that this is a most special thing that is taking place over in the woods. None of the men and women, yes women, working on the cemetery are doing it for any personal gain. It is, however, personally rewarding to be there and cutting out brambles and briars, dragging logs and raking dead branches into piles for burning. More than one volunteer has said he wished he didn't have to go to work, that he rather be there cleaning up the cemetery for the people of our parish and for our town. For me personally, I find it therapeutic to go over there and spend time working, and then sitting down and visualizing what that special place looked like 100 years ago, and what it will look like this time next year. Even with daylight savings time, darkness comes too soon.

Facing Ireland or Facing East

It has become evident to us that the cemetery was laid out in such a way that all the stones were placed facing toward the east, that is, looking up through the valley towards Tower City. Some think that was done so they'd face the sunrise, but some of us, knowing it used to be called the Irish Cemetery, prefer to think the stones are facing the Emerald Isle.

Heartbreak on the telephone

Since we kicked this project off at the beginning of February, I've received many phone calls and many email messages about it. These have come from across the country, and for the most part, were from people originally from this area. They have read or have heard that a local cemetery is being restored, and they call here hoping it's a cemetery that has personal meaning for them. Several times, including just this morning, I've had to tell someone that we aren't working on the cemetery they called about. And it's a hard thing to do. Today's caller was referring to the old catholic cemetery in Tower City. She told me how she used to go there with her father, and the types of flowers they used to put on the graves, and the names on the stones there. Even though most of her family is buried at the new Sacred Heart cemetery in the Greenfields, she almost cried when I told her we weren't working on the one she thought we were. Another lady called me from Hegins hoping that we were working on Shaffer's Cemetery in the woods above Wiconisco. Again, I had to disappoint her. I've heard from people wanting information on the cemetery in Clark's Valley too. There seems to be such intense interest in the past right now that it seems a shame more can't be done about returning these final resting places to a more dignified condition. We can only pray the fire of enthusiasm will begin soon and that it'll spread quickly.

Fundraising help needed

We still need your help in raising funds with which to continue working on the cemetery. Yes, this is a bad time to be asking for money, with the Lenten Appeal and every other group looking for support. That's why we don't keep asking for your donations. We need them, and certainly appreciate your support in that way. But we do keep asking for help with fundraising, for several reasons: (1) most people cannot contribute in a large way, but they can perhaps make a cake for a bake sale or donate used items for a yard sale, (2) fundraising events offer a way for members of our parish family to get together to do something for a common good, (3) there are no age requirements to assist with a fundraising event; youngsters can do as much as oldsters, and (4) everyone gets to feel good about helping do something extraordinary, even if they never set foot in the cemetery. Let me know if you can help in any way. Thinking about helping raise money or about helping with the work at the cemetery? Call me and I'll meet you and we'll go to the cemetery together and I'll show you around. You'll come back home feeling different, not an explainable feeling, but a different feeling. We really do need additional funds to complete this project. I guarantee that if you help raise money so we can continue, that when you walk into the CITW, your face will flush and your heart will beat fast with the pride you'll feel at having helped. Is that a good thing? I think so. Other places have shrines for people to visit and pray and reflect. Here in Williamstown we have an old abandoned place where people we didn't even know were buried a long time ago. I think it's more than that, as I've said many times and in many different ways. It's a very special place that you'll just have to experience for yourself. Once you're there, you're standing among angels sent by God to make this small spot beautiful again. You can't help but be affected by the feeling.

Give me a forum and I'll go on and on

This project has become a major focus for me in recent weeks. It's almost become a fulltime job. When given a forum to write or speak on the subject, I'm hard to hold in check. I don't apologize for that, and I do hope you understand. I plan to be at the meeting of the National Council of Catholic Women on Tuesday evening to answer any questions and to show an updated video on the cemetery. If you're a member, please come. If you're not a member and would like to know more about our project, call me at 647-2226 (before 9 p.m. please), or email me at patb@epix.net.

Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. Please continue to support our efforts so we can continue to make the Cemetery in the Woods a place to be proud of, a place where you can go visit those who were Williamstowners long before we were, and a place where you can reflect on your faith. I hope that each of you will take the opportunity to visit the woods and spend some time there.

Pat Bettinger April 4, 2000