08/10/2009 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Children's Hour production. An informational sign was displayed and a Dover Players representative explained the project during intermission. Originally a fundraising effort was planned during Artful Murder in October. That production had been cancelled, but was recently rescheduled for the original dates. A quickly formed plan for fundraising was attempted for The Children's Hour. A more comprehensive plan for fundraising will be planned for Artful Murder. An art show and craft bazaar designed to not compete with the Juried Arts & Crafts Festival may be organized for the fall of 2010 as a fundraiser for cemetery improvements. Director Wenger and Councilman Orlowski, along with several members of the Olmsted Historical Society, attended a gravestone preservation workshop in July where they learned proper techniques for headstone cleaning, restoration, mortaring, filling cracks, leveling and other repairs in an old Berea cemetery. Due to the many trees and resulting shade, funguses, molds, and other biological growths have damaged many headstones. The North Olmsted cemeteries do not suffer from those conditions. Those that attended the class can now pass the knowledge onto others involved in the project. The workshop and information on the website will be beneficial. Mr. Orlowski discovered that the sandstone buildings at Butternut Ridge and Coe Ridge Cemeteries were possibly used to store bodies in the winter when the ground was too frozen to dig the graves. Neither building is or appears to be a mausoleum for a family. The building at Butternut Ridge Cemetery does have names carved in the stones, which could be the families who donated the building. Additional research will be needed to validate this possible use. The instructor has a busy schedule and is focused on being a practitioner, not a policy maker. Therefore, he is not suited for the Landmarks Commission speaker series. Mr. Orlowski added that valuable documentation and reference sources were provided. The workshop confirmed the first step is to complete a master plan including mapping out the cemeteries and learning as much about them as possible. The University of Akron has a ground penetrating radar machine and an individual qualified to operate the unit who may be available for minimal cost. Radar proved helpful to the City of Berea in locating urunarked graves, which both Butternut Ridge and Coe Ridge are alleged to have. A significant problem at Butternut Ridge Cemetery is groundhogs, as they dislodge the stones by disturbing the ground. Stones leaning more than 45 degrees should be straightened. Mr. Schumann said the priority is to obtain funding for site surveys so a master plan can be completed. Ms. Wenger agreed. There is value in ground penetrating radar, a good second step, but the North Olmsted cemeteries are not quite as old as some and are not missing as many headstones. Until a full inventory of the cemeteries is completed, it is difficult to say how many headstones are in need of repair. A full inventory will be completed along with a maintenance plan. It will take many hours to complete such an inventory. Ms. Draudt reported there are 17 broken headstones at Butternut Ridge Cemetery. Mr. Schumann observed that this work, which seemed simple at first, is not so simple. Mr. Orlowski added that with regards to landscaping, the instructor recommended leaving things as they are. Centennial of the Villaue of North Olmsted and Ci4y Schools For the School Centennial Mr. Schumann reviewed that the Olmsted Historical Society provided $200 in partnership with the schools to enlarge historic photos of the schools and graduating students on PVC banners. Display stands, purchased by the Kiwanis, will be brought to Homecoming for displaying the photos. The OHS will also provide related artifacts for display. After Homecoming the schools may display the photos and artifacts on campus.