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Norfolk Society for
Cemetery Conservation
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Preserving, Protecting & Promoting
Norfolk's Historic Cemeteries
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QUARTERLY NEWS & UPDATES
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January 2019
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Having just retired, Cindy began volunteering with the Norfolk Bureau of Cemeteries in October 2012 after reading an article in the Virginian-Pilot called
Volunteers keep cemeteries hauntingly beautiful
. NSCC was not officially created until 2013. Her first project was a group effort to remove the overgrowth of ivy on the Denby vault in Elmwood Cemetery. She has been volunteering ever since in a variety of capacities. Her work is invaluable. Thanks so much Cindy!
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NSCC 2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
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- Dedication of Virginia State Highway Historical Markers for Elmwood and West Point Cemeteries
- 60 volunteer workdays
- 514 volunteer workday hours
- Research for proper resetting of headstones and monuments in cemetery
- 23 members of NSA HR Chief Selectees volunteered at Elmwood.
- 14 members of CNRFC CPO 365 Phase I volunteered at Calvary Cemetery.
- 3 employees of Dominion Energy volunteered at Elmwood Cemetery.
- 15 Facebook workday albums
- Number of attendees on cemetery tours - 1000
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NORFOLK HISTORICAL CEMETERY
SPOTLIGHT
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Norfolk's First Public Cemetery
Cedar Grove Cemetery was established in 1825 as Norfolk's first public burial ground. The ordinance that provided for the establishment of Cedar Grove also called for the closure of St. Paul's Church Yard due to overcrowding and subsequent community health issues. Cedar Grove adjoins a site which had been used for the burial of citizen soldiers from other parts of Virginia during the War of 1812. Though it encompasses only 14 acres of land, Cedar Grove is a valuable cultural landscape the survival of which is imperative to the historic and cultural record. Along with many of Norfolk's founding fathers, there are hundreds of Civil War soldiers and sailors interred at Cedar Grove. It is also the site of mass burials of Norfolk citizens who were victims of the 1855 yellow fever epidemic. http://www.historicforrest.com
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Norfolk’s Historic
CEMETERIESCAPE
Photography Contest & Exhibit 2019
NSCC will sponsor its 4th Annual Cemetery Photography Contest & Exhibit in 2019. First Place will be $1,000 and Second Place will be $500. Reception and award night will be held on May 21, 2019 at Slover Library, Downtown Norfolk. Photos can be taken in any cemetery in the Hampton Roads area which includes the cities of: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Portsmouth, Poquoson, Newport News and Williamsburg. There will be a $20 entry fee. Details on guidelines, sponsorship and entry period dates will be forthcoming.
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FALL FOLIAGE AT ELMWOOD CEMETERY
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The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) showed its gorgeous fall leaves in early November. If you didn’t see it, look for it next year. It is located toward the front of Elmwood Cemetery facing Princess Anne Road. It was such a hit on the NSCC Facebook page that we quickly received 157 likes.
The sugar maple is one of America’s best-loved trees. In fact, more states have claimed it as their state tree than any other single species—for New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont, the Maple Tree stands alone.
While commercially planted for its delicious syrup and value as lumber, this maple tree makes a great addition to any yard or park. And one of its most prominent features is amazing fall color. As the seasons change, the leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, burnt orange and red.
As of January 1 2019, the NSCC is proud to say they have
1,542
enthusiastic Facebook followers!
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ART & ARCHITECTURE IN ELMWOOD CEMETERY
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by Cindy Meier
The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Elmwood Cemetery contains a section called Art and Architecture which talks about the style and design of monuments to include headstones, sculptures, above ground mausoleums, and beehive tombs. Listed in the application are 26 stonemasons and sculptors locally from Norfolk, Portsmouth and Northern Virginia in addition to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and London. Probably one of the most well-known locally is Couper Marble Works in Norfolk owned by John D. Couper. The Couper Marble Works existed for over 130 years; from 1848 to 1942 as the Couper Marble Works, and from 1942 to 1981 as Couper Memorials.
MORE...
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We are happy to welcome 16 new members
this year with a total of 51 members!
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Sustaining Member Levels
Footstone - $10 per month
Headstone - $25 per month
Monument - $35 per month
You may also become an NSCC member for a one-time fee of $25 per year per person ($15 for students & military with valid ID).
Becoming a
Sustaining Member
of the NSCC is easy and insures that more of your donation goes towards the preservation of Norfolk's public cemeteries.
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Your monthly gift will make it possible for the NSCC to:
Professionally assess restoration projects
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Procure materials to repair broken artifacts
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Hire a professional stone mason and contractors
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Make use of equipment to lift & move monuments
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Provide tools, gloves, and
safety apparel
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Provide a reliable stream of program support
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MONUMENT MEMBERSHIP:
David Sullivan
HEADSTONE MEMBERSHIP:
Bobette Nelson
Want to send a donation?
P. O. Box 11446, Norfolk, VA 23517
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FOOTSTONE MEMBERSHIPS:
Mike Frost
Roland Vaults
Andra English
John and Jane Oakes
Jim Ramsey
Diana Ramsey
Cindy Meier
Richard Gresham
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Want to know more about the NSCC?
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Is your civic league, historical society, or any other group interested in a speaker for your upcoming meeting? if so, please contact Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation
at 757-619-0540. NSCC has a number of members knowledgeable about Norfolk’s historical cemeteries,
the history of the City of Norfolk, and related topics.
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The mission of the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation (NSCC) is to preserve, protect and promote the eight historic municipal cemeteries located in Norfolk, Virginia through conservation, education and advocacy. NSCC partners with The City of Norfolk's Bureau of Cemeteries to ensure the conservation & preservation of Norfolk's eight historic municipal cemeteries. These sacred spaces are valuable artistic, educational, cultural and recreational resources for our community
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Board of Directors
Diana Ramsey, President
David Cacace, Vice President
John Cameron, Treasurer
Mike Frost, Secretary
Donna Bluemink
Cindy Meier
John Murray
Jim Ramsey
Andrew Roberts
John Dill,
Chief Conservator
Robert Hitchings,
Advisor
David Sullivan,
Advisor
P. O. Box 11446
Norfolk, VA 23517
757-619-0540
Director@NorfolkSocietyforCemeteryConservation.org
Administrative Staff
Norfolk Bureau of Cemeteries
Ted Dudley, Bureau Manager
John Dill, Chief Conservator
Susan Platt, Public Information Specialist II
Pat Rowsey, Administrative Technician
238 E. Princess Anne Road
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-441-2576
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