The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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Board allocates CDBG funds
for cemetery fence project

by MICHELLE TANGUAY
Observer News Editor

      The Ray Township Historical Society was recently helped in its efforts to restore the Lee Cemetery when the Township Board of Trustees allocated Community Development Block Grant funds to the project.
       Last month, the Board of Trustees allocated $12,800 in CDBG funding to the cemetery's fencing project. The project has been submitted to Macomb County officials and the society is expected to hear later this year if the funding has been approved. Historical Society members say the existing fence is old, has a broken gate and could pose a danger due to sharp edges.
       Society members have raised $1,200 toward erecting a new fence around the cemetery, which is located on Indian Trail between 29 Mile Road and Wolcott.
       The cemetery has long been closed. Society members believe that the first burial in the cemetery occurred in 1827 while the last was in 1906.
       At some point over the years, a farm was located next door to the cemetery and it is believed that animals ran through the cemetery, knocking down and damaging many stones. Last April, a University of Michigan student visited the cemetery to clean the existing stones.
       Last month, Gregg King, author of the "Michigan Historic Cemetery Preservation Guide" spoke to society members about stone repair and finding plots. King is also a member of the Canton Township Historic Commission and is in charge of the three historic cemeteries.
       A dowser also visited the cemetery in an effort to locate graves in an area of the cemetery with few stones. Society President Connie Firestine said he used a set of true dowsing rods, which at one time were available through cemetery supply catalogs.
       "Those sticks would cross and uncross," Firestine said. "It was amazing to watch him."
       The society is still seeking an engineering firm that has GPR (ground penetrating radar) equipment to assist in locating unmarked graves.
       To make a tax-deductible donation to the society or for more information, call (586) 703-8382 or e-mail at rayhistoricalsociety@comcast.net