Oak Grove Cemetery seeking financial aid from Manchester Township

Oak Grove Cemetery, opened in 1856 just west of the village, has a long and venerable history in the Manchester community. Wandering up and down the steep hills and along dusty pathways, one can find impressive monuments as well as simple slate markers that show the ravages of time. Each of these people had a name and a part in the story of Manchester.

But Oak Grove is about to enter a new chapter of its history. Last October, when the cemetery board held its semi-annual meeting, it was evident that the ravages of time have also taken their toll on the finances of this historic cemetery. Careful planning over the years has enabled the cemetery board to continue operations as normal, but new expenses, including the addition of another groundskeeper to supplement what long-time sexton Mike Miner has done for many years, will not allow things to continue as they have been.

With limited gravesites remaining for sale and few other sources of revenue, the cemetery board agreed it needs to look at new options. The decision was made to approach the Manchester Township board for assistance.

Representatives attended the Manchester Township Board’s January meeting, to make the case for financial help, starting with its 2019-20 budget year. By law, a township or other municipality must take over cemeteries within its jurisdiction. The cemetery board has agreed to continue to handle the day to day operations of the cemetery, since there are still grave sites available, but financial help is a necessity if they are to keep running and maintaining the cemetery. The township will consider the request at its June 11 meeting.

Oak Grove Cemetery Board of Trustees authorized Michael Tindall to present the financial sheet, showing expenses for cemetery operations for the next 12 months. The amount that is raised through grave site sales will be deducted from the amount of money needed from Manchester Township. This presentation will be made at the June meeting.

“We have means of raising money,” Tindall explained, “but not nearly enough to continue as we have in the past. We turned to the township when we realized that we had enough to continue the status quo for 2019, but starting in 2020, we will need significant help.”

Tindall has estimated an annual figure of $45,000 for the cemetery’s maintenance and other expenses.

“As we come up with projects to enhance and maintain the cemetery, we will continue to do fundraising,” he said. “We didn’t include any of those kinds of expenses in our normal operating budget; we will seek out donations for those expenses.”

As an example, Tindall pointed out that the new roof on the storage shed at the front of the cemetery on Austin Road, was financed by a $1,000 gift from the Sesquicentennial Committee. Emanuel Church has donated $5,000 for updates and repairs to the building this spring and summer, which will cover painting, a cement slab on the north side of the building, cemetery mapping, and new signage. “We can’t be more appreciative of the support from the entire community,” Tindall said.

Other donations have financed the purchase and development of the easternmost section of the cemetery property, which this summer will also have a loop road developed so the board can begin selling grave sites in that section.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.