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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-20-2016 Minutes HCC Regular Meeting Minutes Hillsborough Cemetery Committee Friday, May 20, 2016 9:00 a.m., Town Barn Present: Chair Ken Ostrand, Vice Chair Ashley DeSena, Lisa Williams, Jane Gaede, David McCullough, Archivist Bartow Culp Absent: Evelyn Poole-Kober Staff: Ken Hines, Stephanie Trueblood, Jamie Johnson Guest Speaker: Sarah Lowry Item 1: Call meeting to order, and confirm presence of a quorum Chair Ostrand called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. He called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda There were no changes to the agenda. Chair Ostrand approved the agenda. Item 3: Approval of minutes from March 18, 2016 meeting There were no changes to the minutes. Motion: Vice Chair DeSena made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 18, 2016 meeting. Second: Mr. McCullough seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous Item 4: Guest Speaker: Sarah Lowry, Archaeologist and Geophysics Specialist, New South Associates, Inc. in Greensboro, NC Guest Speaker Sarah Lowry of New South Associates gave a presentation to the committee on “Geophysical Applications in North Carolina Cemeteries.” She indicated that she is a trained archaeologist and geophysics specialist and about half of her work is with cemeteries. People contact her company to get an idea of what is in a cemetery without digging it up. The most effective technique for time efficiency and accuracy is ground penetrating radar. In Mecklenburg County, she worked in a cemetery where it was thought that there were only 12 graves. After ground penetrating radar work, it was discovered that there were actually close to 400 graves. GPR doesn’t work like on television shows such as C.S.I. or Bones. You can’t see a visible skeleton with the machine. The GPR cart set-up includes a modified baby jogger with computer, antenna, equipment 2 and screen. The frequency of the antenna is typically 400 MHz with resolution from 1 to 2.5 meters depth. The resolution depends on the soil condition as to what depth it is able to read. She makes a large grid in the space of the cemetery that needs to be identified and then walks the grid pattern. Electromagnetic waves are sent into the ground in a cone of energy as you walk along, pushing the cart. The computer produces a profile that is visible on the screen as you walk along. She makes test passes and calibrates the equipment at the beginning of the day for the best resolution. After she walks the grid, she later adds the profiles into the computer to make slice maps which produce images similar to a CAT scan. At the end, she makes interpretations based on the data produced. No processing of collected data is done in the field. Sarah will prepare a full report of “possible grave sites.” The word “possible” is used because the only way to know for sure is to dig up the cemetery. Sarah indicated that some graves do not reflect radar energy and that often babies and children are difficult to identify. Typically, graves for babies and children are shallow because it is difficult to dig a small hole deep, which creates quicker decomposition. She also noted that occasionally if people aren’t baptized, they are placed outside the main burial areas and that there are a higher number of unmarked graves in economically depressed areas. She believes the GPR work in the Old Town Cemetery will take 2 days. If she begins the project in early July, the results should be ready by the end of August. Item 5: Discussion of OTC Preservation Award Stephanie Trueblood indicated that the Historic District Commission makes Preservation Award nominations in April each year and votes at their May meeting. May is National Preservation Month. The HDC awards those who help advance the preservation, history and heritage of Hillsborough. This is the first time that the HDC has given a volunteerism award and they are very appreciative of the committee’s work to raise public awareness of the cemetery. The award will be presented during the Last Fridays event on May 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Orange County Historic Courthouse. There will be posters about both awards at the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough through the entire month of May. Mr. Culp, Ms. Gaede, Mr. McCullough, Ms. Poole-Kober, and Ms. Williams indicated that they will be present for the awards presentation. Chair Ostrand will not be able to attend and Vice-chair DeSena is unsure if she will be able to attend the event. Item 5a: OTC Research: Inhabitants Update [Ostrand] Chair Ostrand commented that he’s found many updates to add to the Old Town Cemetery inhabitant’s records. At this time, he has more archival resources for research than Mary Claire Engstrom had when the original brochure and list of inhabitants was developed in the 1960s. Chair Ostrand noted several updates including dates and names that can be added to create a more detailed list than we’ve had previously available. Ms. Gaede provided an update on the Strudwick Hall expansion project. All of the graves that were in the path of the expansion have been fully excavated and disinterred. There were five graves total, which included 3 adults and 2 children. The graves were estimated to be from the early 1800s. They have been reinterred at Little River Presbyterian Church’s cemetery. The Strudwick Hall expansion is expected to move forward in July of this year. Item 6: Cleanups of New Town Cemetery [NTC] and OTC [May 14] (Williams and Ostrand) Ms. Williams indicated that the clean up last weekend, on May 14, was very successful. Twelve Boy Scouts, their dads and other adult volunteers removed ivy. About 2/3 of the work is done and perhaps later this year in the fall, another clean-up day will be scheduled. Chair Ostrand mentioned that only 3 about 6 of the smallest foot stones were able to be properly moved as the other stones wouldn’t budge. Mr. Hines suggested the use of a crane truck in the future. The wall collapse will be worked on next week as there is about a 6 x 3 section that was damaged. About 6 or 7 bricks will need to be replaced and will be matched as closely as possible. The OTC is about 99% done at this time. The holes are filled in near the vaults. The walls are repaired. A stump was removed in an effort to repair the wall and it was taken away within two days from the street curb area. Item 7: Burke and Brochures: status reports [Ostrand, DeSena (OTC) and Hines (NTC)] The Sons of the American Revolution started the process to potentially move Thomas Burke into the Old Town Cemetery. The State of North Carolina believes they control the grave site of Thomas Burke and has made it clear they prefer to not move the grave site. State officials prefer to increase access to the current site with an easement. At this time, visitors have to cross an electric fence and climb up hill to the grave. Burke’s descendants in Ireland will have to be contacted about the move and give their permission for the process to move forward. Catherine Wright revised the Old Town Cemetery brochure to include columns on both sides to enhance readability. Vice Chair DeSena sent back minor revisions including Chair Ostrand’s notes about the Owen brother and historical updates based on his research. A simple update of the existing map can be done by the Planning Department. Devon Burkhart is the graphic designer who worked on the interpretive signs for the town and she would likely be available to assist with a more complex map, if necessary. Vice Chair DeSena and Ms. Trueblood will work together to create a map for the brochure. The New Town Cemetery brochures need to be printed soon. Mr. Hines suggested printing 500 on medium grade paper. Chair Ostrand wrote a new paragraph to include in the brochure. It will replace the mailing information tab on the older version. Item 8: Budget Report [Hines] The HCC budget is fine at this time even with the expense of the brochure and the collapsed brick wall repairs. There are funds to go after more stone repairs next year. There are about five stones in the Old Town Cemetery that need repair. The final budget will be approved in June. Item 9: Steward Reports: MLC, OTC, NTC Ms. Poole-Kober emailed her steward report as she would be absent from the meeting. She indicated that the MLC report remains the same. The line of broken down trees needs to be cut, removed, and new shrubs/trees planted. She will plant periwinkle as she cleans her yard. She asked that Mr. Hines leave some red flags to put where the periwinkle is planted. Chair Ostrand mentioned the OTC walls look great and that the boxwoods need to be pruned. The NTC looks good because of the recent clean-up day. Item 10: Subcommittee Reports, and especially from Signage [Mr. McCullough] and others. Changes to the interpretive sign for MLC are needed. Request to remove the oak tree, remove numbers or small dots along the top, remove green line around the well, add brick memorial text and remove stone plaque, and remove stand pipe. Vice Chair DeSena suggested adding “State” before “Senator 4 Beneham Cameron.” Mr. Hines suggested changing the word “rediscovered” to “recovered” when referencing the tomb stones because they were leaning against a tree in the cemetery and not lost. The committee members discussed where to put the sign at the MLC. Mr. Hines suggested installing it near the existing Margaret Lane Cemetery sign. Motion: Mr. Culp made a motion to support the proposed changes to the MLC interpretive sign text and map and the proposed installation location of the sign. Second: Vice Chair DeSena seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous Item 11: Set next meeting date; [July 20-August 5]; Adjourn Proposed next meeting dates include July 22, July 28, and July 21. Ms. Johnson will check the meeting room reservation calendar and send a meeting date notification email. Motion: Mr. McCullough made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:13 a.m. Second: Mr. Culp seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous Submitted by: Jamie Johnson, May 26, 2016