OPERATION RESTORE PROGRESS REPORT MAY 5, 2012: Today’s work: 5 framed on ground in concrete, 1 complete new base (now can glue), 11 footstones. – Cost $380.00 RESTORE to-date: Cost $3,400.00 Headstones put together on the ground – 16 (encased in concrete) Headstones glued or with new base - 63 Footstones repaired/reset etc - 41 Check book balances as of today: Project RESTORE $2,240.00 Regular A/C 1,615.39 (paid mowing this week $150.00 – received $100.00 contribution) Publication sales 200.00 Plus C/D Thanks, Cecil Also some fence (Iron and Chain Link) around some of the sites need to be repaired.Hopefully after next week end we’ll have a pretty good idea (for the 5/20 meeting) of what needs to be done on the stones. I do know an untold number need to be leveled and/or straightened. Please plan to come to the meeting and visit the grounds to see what’s been done. I do know an untold number need to be leveled and/or straightened. The Commissioner came by today on a political visit and said we will have the gravel before the meeting. OPERATION RESTORE UPDATE, April 21, 2012 Today’s progress: *Headstones encased in cement – 5 (cost $250.00 - avg. cost $50 each) Headstones repaired upright – 5 (cost $145.00) Footstone repair – 1 (cost $5) Total paid out today $400.00 *These are headstones that are in many pieces and/or so weathered (worn) they cannot be glued. Repairman is using a form filled with cement and then placing the pieces in the cement where they are readable. They will be forever lying on top of the grave. I have verified this procedure with several restoration folks and they say this is the only way it can be done. (We must have 30 or 40 more to do) It almost seems a never ending job.Finances update: Regular account balance $1,665.39 – mowing is $150.00 per time and we will have one this week. Most of the weeds and grass around the stones and iron fences has been killed with roundup and is looking good. Last week we got another 5 hours community service from the JP’s court which was spent cleaning up mostly in the Hill plot.RESTORE Account: Current balance (after today’s check) is $2,905.00 which includes the Monsanto money deposited this week.(2,500.00)Let me know if you have any questions. I will send photo’s of the headstones lying down as soon as he takes the forms away. That will be next Saturday as he will not be back until then.Regards, Cecil
HUBBARD CITY NEWS HILLSBORO MIRROR CORSICANA DAILY SUN WACO TIMES HERALD Operation “RESTORE” announced for Old Spring Hill Cemetery By Carl W. Matthews Were your ancestors buried at SPRING HILL CEMETERY near Dawson, Texas? One of the most beautiful and historical cemeteries in Western Navarro Co. TX, Spring Hill Cemetery has existed for more than 160-years. The site was set aside as a cemetery by the 1860 will of Dr. George Washington Hill, who served as Secretary of War when Sam Houston and Anson Jones were Presidents of The Republic of Texas. Hill County, Texas was named in his honor. The marker for Dr. Hill, placed by the State of Texas, and the rock wall surrounding the Hill Plot, were badly damaged when a windstorm toppled two ancient oak trees. One of the early Texas Rangers is buried there along with, a slave who walked from Tennessee to Texas in the 1850s, and families who arrived in the area in the 1840s before Navarro County was formed. Surnames of families known to have been buried there include: Amonette, Arnold, Bankston, Barber, Barnes, Berry, Bolden, Breedlove, Carpenter, Cates, Cheatham, Cleghorn, Clemons, Coffey, Cottongame, Davidson, Dowdy, Drummond, Freeland, Fullerton, Gallman, Hargis, Herrin, High, Hill, Hokey, Holland, Horne, Jetton, Jordan, Kay, Krksey, Lankford, Luther, Manning, Marsh, Matthews, Martin, McCullough, McEwen, McSpadden, Miller, Morgan, Moore, Morrow, Morris, Mount, Odell, Perkins, Parris, Pierce, Pollard, Prater, Priddy, Quinn, Ratliff, Rockenbaugh, Root, Rucker,Shaw, Shelton, Sidwell, Sellers, Slade, Slaughter, Slauter, Smith, Sparks, Spuirlin, Staaden, Stockard, Tekell, Terry, Walker, Wall, Watkins, Webb, Welsh, White, Wiley, Wilkerson, Williamson, Williams, Wilson, Winn, Wood, Wright, Young, and Younger. The cemetery was integrated in 1864, perhaps earlier. Names of known Afro-American burials include: Hendrix, Henry, Martin, Porter, Shepherd, Thomas, Traylor, and Younger. Many markers, dating from 1848, lie on the ground, some broken as a result ot falling trees, shifting soil, and vandalsm. Restoration costs for these markers is estimated to be $30-$50. each with the total cost estimated over $5,000.00. Your Tax Deductible Gift...now....would be most appreciated. Send Donations to: SPRING HILL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION P. O. Box 94 Dawson TX 76639