On Saturday, 6 May 06 the weather couldn't have been any better. It started out cool, but not cold, and cloudy and warmed up just a little. Later the sun came out and brightened the day to shed light on the work we had just completed. All of the brush and trees had been cleared. There are still stumps to contend with, one of which will be a challenge removing it from the fence. The before and after pictures should give you an idea how much work was done in a few hours time. We started about 9 a.m. and ended around noon.
Besides myself (Teacher, SkillsUSA Advisor, SUVCW Westport Camp #64), today's crew consisted of Martin Conrad (Teacher, SkillsUSA Advisor, Optimists Club), Becky Conrad, Nathaniel Conrad, Randy Long, Derek Long (SkillsUSA Member), John Ridings, Jessica Ridings (SkillsUSA Member), Ben Remington (SkillsUSA Member), James Bridges (SkillsUSA Member), Larry Stevenson (SkillsUSA Advisor), and Dan Carder (Elliott's Scouts Civil War Reenactors). Everyone worked hard sawing, cutting, chopping, digging, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and learning all with the utmost respect for those who were interred here so many years ago. By the way, after counting tree rings, we had determined that some of the trees were as much as 70 years old (approximately).The gate was carefully extracted from the ground. On it is the
manufacturing company's name, Champion Iron Fence Co. Kenton, Ohio. The fence is a hairpin and picket fence with open or scroll cornerposts. Additional information about iron cemetery fences and Champion Iron Fence Co. can be found at http://www.chicora.org/cemetery_fences.htm.
Another interesting discovery was that of an apparent footstone. Although broken, one of the pieces shows the first and middle initials as S. A. Another piece is still missing. It was buried near a tree between the two obvious grave locations. The only family members whose first name began with an S is their father, Samuel Gordon Hollingsworth (1814-1892), their mother, Susan Harris (Mimms) Hollingsworth (died about 1854), and a sister, Susan Hollingsworth (born 7 Dec 1854). The sister married Charles C. Faris in Oct 1882. The missing piece may solve the mystery. If there are other burials, where are the headstones?
