Graveyard Rabbit Blog for the York Region Branch OGS Cemetery Transcripts, etc.

Dickson's Hill Cemetery

2011-10-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

Work was started on updating the Dickson's Hill Cemetery. Apparently they are having an anniversary next year, 200 I believe, and it was suggested that a revision would be nice. Two of us were out there last month to start the updating, and I took advantage of the nice weather on the Thanksgiving weekend to finish it off.

Still have to finish keying it into the computer. I'm about 2/3's of the way through. Guess I should work on that after I finish this post. I can get the index done and redo the map and history over the winter. Once the nice weather comes back in the spring, I'll go out and proof it against the stones and it will be ready for publication.

Baker Hill Baptist Church Cemetery

2011-08-26T11:37:00.000-04:00

Baker Hill Baptist Church Cemetery transcript has been handed in for publication. Will be selling for $4, same price as Springvale Baptist Church Cemetery, which was handed in a little while ago.

Continuing on Queensville today.

Queensville Cemetery

2011-07-16T09:46:00.000-04:00

Had yesterday off, so I went out to Queensville to finish updating my section. Spent the majority of the rest of the day downloading the photos and updating the transcript. Continuing to update today as well. This is a large section, so it will take awhile.

Still have to email the cemetery and ask if they have a history, prepare the index and maps. Also waiting for one person to update his section. Still have to do a quick proof of the columnbarium updates. That was done entirely from photos, so I want to double check against the actual engraving.

Fingers crossed this will be done by September.

Springvale Baptist Church Cemetery

2011-06-11T17:06:00.000-04:00

Finally, the Springvale Cemetery transcript is ready. I will print out the final copy this weekend, and hand it in at the Exec meeting on June 14.

Yeah!!!!

Ontario Cemetery Act

2011-06-06T18:27:00.000-04:00

Well, it's dead for the 2nd time!

Bill 126, Inactive Cemeteries Protection Act, 2010, has died due to the Legislature being prorogued on the 1^st June. Unfortunately, the man who tried to get this going will not be running again, so someone else will have to be found to try again.

Not Happy

Clendenen Cemetery & Prospect Hill

2011-04-26T18:21:00.001-04:00

Handed in the Clendenen Cemetery (Markham) transcript tonight. There are only 5 stones, so I don't think it will be a big seller. At least it is published.

Prospect Hill in Newmarket was handed over on the 13th to be added to the collection in the library. It will not be sold as a publication as there are no stones to transcribe. It's a short history along with pictures of the dig. The cemetery is now just a plaque on the property, which is now a retirement home.

Transcript Update

2011-03-20T18:20:00.001-04:00

Handed in the Newmarket Cemetery transcript last Tuesday. YEAH! It's 458 pages, but don't know the cost yet. Will find that out soon. Probably around $20-25.

On the 13th I'll be handing in a short transcript on the Clendenden Cemetery. There are only 5 stones. Also will be handing in the Prospect Hill Cemetery at the same time. That is a history only as there are no headstones. There are photos of the archaeological dig, and a site map of the stains and graves that were found.

Newmarket Cemetery

2011-03-10T21:26:00.000-05:00

Finally printed the Newmarket Cemetery transcript tonight. It's over 400 pages. Will have to review it tomorrow to make sure it is ok. Once that is done I will be handing it in at the Executive Meeting on Tuesday.

I just found out that originally it was started back in 1997. I started working on it in 2006. I can't believe it was that long ago. Have had a few detours since starting it - Aurora Cemetery, work on the Queensville Cemetery, and some time spent in the Mount Albert Cemetery. At least it's done and will be on sale hopefully by the end of the month.

YIPPEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Publications for 2011

2011-02-26T14:19:00.001-05:00

I finally handed in the transcript for WHS-003, Bloomington Methodist Cemetery. It was transcribed awhile ago, but I was waiting for the map. Got sick of waiting and did my own. :)

At the same time, I handed in Ebenezer Cemetery, MRK-012. It's beginning to look like there will be several cemeteries ready for publication in 2011.

Newmarket, NWM-002, will be ready for publication shortly. All I have to do is finish the maps. I've done the master map that shows the entire cemetery, and need to break it out into sections with lines showing the row numbers. That's a little tedius, but I'll get it done. Hopefully in time to hand the printout over for printing either at the branch meeting in a few weeks, or the next exec meeting at the end of March.

Also, I decided to finish up another one that was started earlier - Clendenan Cemetery, MRK-010. That one is a small family cemetery of 5 stones. It was saved from developers, and is now a nice little cemetery within a parkette surrounded by a new subdivision. Just need to try to find out who took the pictures of the original cemetery, and find out if we are going to sell it, or just put it in our library. If we are going to sell it, I need an ISBN for publication. Have asked about that and am awaiting an answer. With luck that will also be handed in within the next month.

About a year ago I got 3 boxes of cemetery stuff, and finally started to go through them. Have one cleaned out and found some pretty cool stuff. There is a burial site that was discoved years ago when the construction was started for a retirement home. I found a report prepared by the archeoligist, and photos that show skeletons in the graves. The bodies were not relocated, just reburied. A plaque beside the retirment home marks the location. It it wasn't for that sign, you would never know graves were present.

2010 wrap up

2011-01-02T13:53:00.000-05:00

Looking back on my 2010 to-do list, looks like I finished a big, fat zero. Running through what I had posted in my list, updates are as follows.

The Newmarket Cemetery is 95% done. There are a few stone that were covered up by large plants. I'll have to go back in the spring before the plants start to grow. One stone was almost completely obscured by an evergreen. Why, oh why, do people plant evergreen shrubs in front of stones, rather than beside them? The updates have been put into the transcript, except the stones I can't read yet, and the index is almost up-to-date. I have 2 or 3 sections to edit. The only other thing left to do is the map(s). I can do that over the winter. This transcript should be ready by May (fingers crossed).

Markham/Springvale Cemetery. Didn't really do anything with this one. Actally, I forgot about it. Volunteers did the transcript, and I need to do the map and history. I want to get out to the cemetery as I didn't understand a few things in the transcript. Once I see the stones, I should understand better. It's not a big cemetery, so once I get out there, shouldn't take long to get it finished.

Mount Albert Cemetery didn't even get looked at unfortunately.

The cemetery book kinda took a back seat to everything. Not sure I even gave it much thought at all.

One thing that did get done was a cemetery day at the Queensville Cemetery. It was started years ago by the previous co-ordinator, and left as is. A few of us showed up on the designated day, and most of the sections were re-proofed and updated before the summer ended. I have one section to complete, and one person has another section that didn't get started. The columbariums have to be updated, but I can do that over the winter after I finish the maps for Newmarket. I took pictures of them all.

The Bloomington-Methodist Cemetery can probably be released in 2011. I was waiting and waiting for the source of the history to be sent to me, and I've given up. I will just list the person who passed on the information since he is not sending me his source. It just needs to be printed and handed over for publication.

The Ebenezer Cemetery will also be released in 2011. Can't find much history on it, so I will try to find some brief bios on a few of the 'residents' if I can. I should be able to hand over the master of this and the Bloomington Cemetery at the next meeting at the end of the month.

Happy New Year

Bill 126 - An Act to Protect Ontario’s Inactive Cemeteries

2010-11-20T16:40:00.000-05:00

The cemetery act is being resurrected. Hopefully the government does not do something stupid to mess it up again.

From the OGS website: "On November 2, 2010, Mr Jim Brownell, MPP (Stormont, Dundas, South Glengarry) rose in the Ontario Legislative Assembly and introduced Bill 126, An Act to Protect Ontario’s Inactive Cemeteries. The Bill prohibits the relocation of inactive cemeteries despite anything to the contrary in another Act or regulation dealing with cemeteries."

Last time it made it through 2 readings before the government prorogued and killed everything. Fingers crossed.

Newmarket Cemetery Update

2010-10-17T12:32:00.001-04:00

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Well, yesterday and today I took photos of all the headstones so I can finish the transcript finally. Listed all the stone numbers and last names, then went through again and took the pics. Over 250 in each section. I was sure that the last 2 sections had been updated last summer, but I can't find the info anywhere. Oh well, at least I have the pics to go from.

Already have a history, and have all but 4 sections indexed. There was an index prepared when the transcript was first done several years ago, but it desperately needs to be updated, especially the last few sections as that is where most of the new burials seem to be. Preparing the death date index for the OGS website as I go so that will be ready. The death date index is a great way to find little errors in the index.

Once the indexing is finished, just have to prepare the maps. I think that is everything that needs to be done. Had hoped to complete this before last Christmas and didn't make it. Not going to even try to guess at a timeframe this time.

Came across one grave without a marker, but with a touching sign . . . Nana & Grampa's Garden of Eden. I wonder who Nana and Grampa are. Maybe the Cemetery Corp can tell me if I can find them in the office. It's only open now and then. Doesn't seem to have hours.

Cemetery Act - overdue update

2010-09-25T17:53:00.000-04:00

I keep forgetting to post the update to the Cemetery Act. It died an early death. Because the government prorogued at the beginning of the year, everything that was in progressed closed.

My understanding is that once the elections are over, the Ontario Genealogical Society will approach various officials and try to find a new champion. The battle will have to start all over again. Fortunately there was enough backing before that the Act passed 2 readings, so hopefully it will be resurrected and passed.

Aurora Cemetery Veterans' Candlelight Memorial Service

2010-09-19T17:33:00.000-04:00

This afternoon was the annual Memorial Service. It's similar to the Nov. 11 ceremonies, except it's for the vets who came back.

It started from a ceremony attended in the mid-1900's in Holland where Canadian soldiers were remembered by school children. The idea was brought back to Canada and started in British Columbia. Candles and Canadian flags are placed at the graves of the soldiers who returned from the war, but since passed on. It has spread to Ontario and Nova Scotia.

The one in Aurora is run by the local Legion, with cadets from the various branches, and the local bagpipe band. They light the candles the previous night, but I have never been to the cemetery to see that. It has run at the Aurora Cemetery for several years now.

Queensville Cemetery Update

2010-09-11T20:11:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, Sept. 25 there will be a cemetery day at the Queensville Cemetery. 10am. The cemetery was transcribed several years ago, but never published. Printouts of the transcript will be handed to the volunteers to update and add new stones.

Hopefully there will be enough people to enable us to get most of the cemetery, if not all, updated so it can be published once Newmarket is done.

CEMETERY DIRECTORY FOR YORK REGION

2010-08-03T10:39:00.000-04:00

Several people have been asking about a cemetery directory for York Region. Looks like we may have one available in a month or two.

I spent Saturday and Sunday morning driving around Georgina and Vaughan to get the distances from major intersections to update the directions. The previous directory had directions like "north of Steeles" and no indication how far north. Toronto Branch had published the directory when York was still part of Toronto. It didn't become a separate branch until a few years later. I believe the publication was in the late 1980's.

There have been a few I could not find, but will try again. If I can't find them, then I'll just have to use the old directions. Could be they are no longer visible.

Target - end of August. I plan on taking a sample printout to the next exec meeting on the 23rd, so hopefully it will meet everyone's approval and we can announce it at the next branch meeting.

Lost and Found

2010-07-11T09:43:00.004-04:00

A few months ago, the Chair of the York Region Branch of the OGS was contacted about a grave marker. Seems it was discovered several years ago when a seniors development was under construction in Newmarket, Ontario. Coincidentally, I can see this development from my window, just across the field to the north. The stone was practically in my own backyard.

The owner of the company salvaged the stone. He could just as easily told them to toss it aside and never given it a second thought. The stone has been living in the garden at his residence. He now needs to find a new home for the stone, and would like to return it either to the cemetery it came from, (if it actually ever was in a cemetery), or to a relative of the people named. This task is proving to be more difficult than I imagined.

STEADMAN
George STEADMAN
Aug. 18, 1870 - May 31, 1950
Beloved husband of
Annie Rimmer.

One of the ladies in their office contacted several cemeteries in town, and in a few surrounding towns. No burial records found anywhere. That's when she contacted us. Since I'm the cemetery co-ordinator for the branch, it was passed to me. I did the usual. Checked the OGS surname database - nothing. Checked the local paper for an obit - nothing. Ditto for the neighbouring town, and also the two major papers that are online for Toronto.

Next step was the census records, both at Ancestry.ca and automatedgenealogy.com. Again nothing. I checked the immigration/passenger lists. Might have found something there. There is a George and Annie Steadman arriving from England to Quebec in 1923. The age is 51, which is pretty close to the correct age. Can't trust age on most documents anyway.

I contacted the local paper to see if they would be interested in running a story. They did. The reporter got a few minor facts wrong, but the important information is correct. So far the only person who has contact us is not a relative, but someone who decided to look on the British census and matched up the people on the passenger list. Great, but we don't know if they are the correct George and Annie. I've written an article which will be in the OGS e-newsletter for July, and also for our branch newsletter, which I believe will be out in September. Hopefully someone comes forward and says, "Hey, those are my grandparents."

Transcript Update

2010-03-20T11:43:00.004-04:00

March 20, 2010
Still trying to finish up the index for the Newmarket Cemetery. Up to Section I now. Since we need a death date index for the OGS website, I'm doing that at the same time. I've completed the additions/corrections to Section I and am in the process of putting the death dates into a spreadsheet for the death date index. I'm up to page 65 of 118 pages in the current index. It may be a little longer once the new people are added, but it won't grow too much. Looks like I've gotten past the half way mark.

After Newmarket is done, it's back to the Mount Albert Cemetery. I got about half way through last fall looking for new additions. Haven't added them yet, and have to update the index, as well as create the death index.

Also, last summer a few volunteers went out to the Second Markham Baptist Church Cemetery (aka Springvale) to re-transcribe that. It was last done about 20 years ago. Just waiting for that to be typed up so I can put it all together.

One other thing I haven't worked on for awhile is the cemetery book. This is separate from the Cemetery Directory (which I guess needs to be published this year too). The book will be one chapter for each area in York Region; there are nine. Each of the nine chapters will have a sub-chapter for each cemetery. If there are small family plots, or a single grave, I will probably combine them in one chapter. I want to include not only cemetery information, but a bit of info about any prominent people in that cemetery, and some history of the area. Would also like a chapter on the common symbols on the stones, and maybe an Appendix listing military abbreviations. Will also list the current cemetery publications that are available for sale.

It will be another busy cemetery summer in 2010.

Newmarket Cemetery

2010-01-03T17:40:00.002-05:00

January 3, 2010
Still working on the index for the transcript and the death date index for the OGS website. Thought this would be done in 2009, but it requires more work than I originally thought. There have been a lot of additions that need to be added since the original work several years ago, and also a number of errors in the index that was done back then. Working on section E at the moment.

Still lots more to do as it's a pretty large cemetery.

Mount Albert Cemetery

2009-12-01T18:16:00.004-05:00

December 1, 2009

Took another trip out to Mount Albert to review more of the transcript. It was getting rather chilly so I didn't get as much done as I had hoped. I was surprised to discover that in several rows, only half of the row had been transcribed. I had planned on getting this published relatively soon, but it looks like I'll have to continue to review the transcript in the spring. Can't help but wonder how much more is missing. This was supposed to be a complete transcription pretty much ready for publication, but I'm not at all comfortable letting it go as is. Especially after finding so many omissions in it.

Newmarket Cemetery Changes

2009-08-29T12:47:00.005-04:00

August 29, 2009

Was out getting more updates for the Newmarket Cemetery and noticed that the Cemetery Corporation made some changes that affect the transcript. In two of the sections near the columbarium they gathered up some of the old flat stones and built several square cement or concrete squares and slapped the stones up along the sides. Depending on how large or small the stones, there are between one and five stones per side. They are not in the same order as they were originally, and some are not even in the same row. Have been trying to re-do those rows of the transcript.

Also noticed there are two new columbariums; these ones are six or eight sided. The others are rectangular. I've only seen about three that have been engraved, so they may or may not become part of the transcript. At the very least, they will be on the cemetery map.

Newmarket Cemetery Update again

2009-08-08T18:07:00.003-04:00

August 8, 2009

Have the three columbariums transcribed and keyed now. Next visit to the Newmarket Cemetery will be to proof-read them, and to check a few comments in Sections C & D that are in the transcripts. Need to start indexing, section by section. Also have to do the maps. It never ends.

Newmarket Cemetery Update for August

2009-08-03T14:36:00.002-04:00

Monday, August 3, 2009
Getting closer to the end of this transcript. Have all the old updates completed, but found a few things I didn't quite understand. Went out to the cemetery today to go through one of the sections for clarification. Also took pictures of all the markers in the mausoleum, and the three columbariums.

There was only one columbarium when it was first transcribed. Got most of one side of the first one done, but a bee was bugging me, so I decided to call it quits and update with what I have. Might be able to complete the updates from photos. Will have to wait until I download them. Looking at them on the camera, there is a fair bit of glare. Might only be able to read part of it. At least it should enable me to get some so I'll only have to fill in the blanks. Still shooting for completion by the end of the summer.

Newmarket Cemetery Update

2009-07-01T11:50:00.002-04:00

July 1, 2009 - Happy Canada Day!!

Finally finished updating all the corrections and new transcriptions that volunteers did over the past few summers. Still have to go out and get some info myself. There three columbariums, but only one in the transcript. The other two may be new. Couple other things to check. Still hoping to have it ready by the end of summer.

Mystery burial site

2009-06-27T15:32:00.003-04:00

Before our last branch meeting (June 10), on of the board members told me about something she had been told recently.

Seems that way back in 1965 (think I got the year right), bones were unearthed while construction was taking place for a subdivision. This person said that the remains were moved to the York Cemetery, which is one of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries. I gave them a call to find out about it. Unfortunately, I was told by the woman who answered the phone that she couldn't tell me anything without a name.

Well, for the time being anyway, we don't have any names. The board member who mentioned it said she will check back with the person who told her and see if there is any more information available. That cemetery is now lost forever, but it would be nice if we could at least recognize it and the former residents.

407 Transitway Update

2009-06-20T14:38:00.002-04:00

I heard back from the Consulting firm. Seems that Lot 4 is far enough north that it is not affected. The unmarked burial appears to be a few blocks north of the highway, so it won't be touched. Now if we can only figure out exactly where it is . . . .

Proposed Highway 407 Transitway

2009-05-28T19:09:00.002-04:00

Well, I went to have a look see at the stuff on display for the propsal for the transitway. Seems it will be cutting across the N/W corner of one cemetery. Beechwood, on Jane Street. The person I spoke to said they have made an agreement with the cemetery. That corner does not have any burials on it.

I sent an email to the Consultant Project Manager asking about the lot beside it. Beechwood sits on Lots 2 & 3, Conc. 4. There is an unmarked, abandoned burial site on Lot 4. I didn't have my cemetery maps with me, so I couldn't ask at the time. Will have to wait and see if I get a response, and what it will be.

Highway in the way?

2009-05-25T06:12:00.003-04:00

Received an email the other day about more work relating to the toll road - Highway 407. It looks like it will be near at least one of our cemeteries. Don't think it will be exactly in that location, but I'll have to try to get to the meeting Thursday and get a better idea. Hopefully we don't have to stage another fight to save a cemetery.

Elwmood Complete

2009-05-18T10:30:00.001-04:00

Well, the transcription for Elmwood Cemetery in Markham has been printed and handed over for publication. The cost will be $14, and should be available shortly.

York Region Cemetery Book

2009-04-11T07:42:00.003-04:00

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Hopefully later this year I can get back to working on the book of cemeteries for York Region. Need to find the original sources that are listed in the old directory to try to find more information. Unfortunately I have no idea where some of these sources are located. Might have to learn how to use my crystal ball!

I have started it, but so far I have only got as far as copying the history from some of our existing transcriptions. They don't all list sources. I have hundreds of photos, but still have to find quite a few of the cemeteries. Haven't counted them, but the number is over 200. This includes active, closed, and abandoned cemeteries, as well as cairns and memorial markers. I would also like to include the cenotaphs if I can find them all.

Cemetery Act - Bill 149

2009-04-10T20:21:00.002-04:00

Friday, April 10, 2009

Well, the Cemetery Act has passed the second reading.

This Bill, if it makes it through to the final reading, will protect all cemeteries, even if they are not registered. The number of unregistered cemeteries in Ontario is over 1200, and there are over 53 just in York Region, where I am located. Some of the small, abandoned family burial sites are being destroyed to make way for sub-divisions or other developments.

These tiny cemeteries contain not only family history, but part of the local history. These people make up the early settlers for the region where they are buried. Not only are we loosing green space, but the history of the country is disappearing with the burial sites.

If you live in Ontario, contact your local MPP and ask him/her to support this Bill when it comes up for the third reading.

Elmwood Cemetery

2009-04-10T18:55:00.002-04:00

Friday, April 10, 2009
This transcript should be ready by May. The transcription is done, the index is complete. The maps need to be traced onto clean paper. That's about it. The history is pretty much complete, even though it's been difficult to find information. Waiting for a few more bits and pieces.

AURORA CEMETERY DONE!

2008-11-07T20:31:00.000-05:00

The Aurora Cemetery has been completed and is ready for sale. Cost --- $30.00

Cemetery Updates for August 2008

2008-08-21T20:37:00.001-04:00

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Melville United Church Cemetery MRK-022

There was a concern about this cemetery as the church and house is for sale. Doris contacted the Town of Markham and was told that the cemetery will not be affected by the sale. There is an application to sever the church from the cemetery which went to the Committee of Adjustment on July 16.

Starr Burial NWM-009

Went to the Elman Campbell Museum in Newmarket to get some information on a possible archaeological dig on the Starr Family burial on Gorham, and spoke with Paul. Paul didn’t know anything about that, but he provided some information indicating the burial site is incorrectly named. It is actually the possible burial site of Eli Gorham. We do have another site that is the Starr burial. Should this site be re-named? Paul also told me about another burial site in the vicinity. A few years ago a man brought a gravestone into the Museum. He had found it as a child and brought it home. Guess he was feeling guilty about having it. It is in wonderful condition as it was protected in a basement or garage, and it’s for an infant child of the Bogart family. Paul showed me where the man thought he had found it -- by the pond behind the fire station on Gorham, just west of Leslie. Paul told me there is supposed to be an old cemetery there, over 100 years old. It probably served the Bogarttown community. Here is another burial site to add to the list.

House of Industry NWM-005

Paul also told me that he is in the process of gathering information on the House of Industry Burial site. There is currently a cairn on the site, and the subdivision is continuing to grow around it. He is hoping to get it designated in order to maintain protection of this location. Marjory and Dianne, OGS cemetery co-chairs, have been notified and are very interested. They asked me to pass this interest along to Paul, and that they would like to see a draft of his proposal when he completes it.

Brownsberger WHS-005

A few days after my visit to the Museum, I receive a call from Fred. He was given my number by Paul at the Museum. He has been re-transcribing some of the Whitchurch-Stouffville cemeteries and said he will hand them over to us for publication. He also said he followed the OGS format, so that will make it easy to complete them for publication. He also told me about the Brownsberger site. Seems that there is a subdivision going up there, and Fred is hoping he can get the site registered so it will be protected. I notified Marjory and Dianne, and because of the up-coming tribunal in Peterborough, they can’t devote much time to this right now. Marjory asked me to tell Fred to compile as much information as he can showing proof there are still bodies buried on the site. She also gave me a name and contact information for the cemetery registrar, which I have passed along to Fred. Speed is of the essence as the area is being prepared for construction now.

Aurora Cemetery AUR-001

The entire transcript has now been indexed. Just proof-reading that last section and also in-cemetery proofing of the rest of Sections S and T are to be done, as well as check a few things that appear a little weird (spelling, more than 4 c/s, etc.) in other sections. A trip to the Land Office to verify the dates of purchase for the land, and small updates to the map is all that is left. This should be ready for sale at the OGS Region V AGM & Conference October 4.

Cemetery Watch

2008-07-17T20:26:00.010-04:00

Thursday, July 17, 2008

There are two cemeteries on watch at the moment. The Melville Church is up for sale. There is a cemetery attached to it on the south side. Inquiries made by the Chair of the York Branch indicates that there is an application to sever the cemetery from the church. Hopefully that goes through and there is no danger of the cemetery being destroyed or harmed.
The other cemetery is actually an old burial site. The Starr Family Burying Ground. There is a townhouse complex proposed in the general area of the site. We don't know exactly where the burial is as it is very old and overgrown. With luck the development will not affect it. We only know that it is very close to the site. A little research should shed some light.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Made a trip to the Elman Campbell Museum in Newmarket and spoke with Paul, who is also with the Newmarket Historical Society and Newmarket Heritage. Seems there are actually two burial sites in the general vicinity where we have the Starr. The Starr might be an actual cemetery that was there over 100 years ago, probably serving the Bogart Town community. The other is the Gorham Family site. Will probably have to do some more research on that one, but it looks like the townhouse will be just east of one and north of the other, so they should be safe, but we will keep an eye on them.

The NHS is also trying to gather information to try to get the House of Industry Cemetery, which is currently just a cairn, designated as a protected site. There are subdivisions being built all around it and it does need to be protected.

Aurora index update

2008-07-12T12:43:00.000-04:00

Saturday, July 12, 2008
My two index helpers bit the dust. Never got a reply from one and the other had health problems and can not continue. The Aurora Cemetery index is now done up to section N. I still have to find time to hit the cemetery and proof the new transcriptions in N and O, and new sections S and T. I’m finding the odd thing that I find questionable and will have to check those out, but nothing major. It’s not supposed to be too hot this weekend so it should be a good time to get out and check things.

Aurora Cemetery Index update

2008-06-29T12:18:00.005-04:00

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Yesterday I received the indexed portion of Sections M, M1 and MX. Thanks Hugh! I have completed Sections L and L1 and have gone back to index Section G. I'm not sure if I handed that out, but I don't think so. I'm pretty sure only C/D and E/F were given away.

I emailed my two helpers and asked for a reply by the end of June. No reply yet from one, and the other person's email bounced back twice. I have been given this person's phone number and will call after the long weekend, just in case they went away. I may try emailing one more time as the same email address was given when renewing membership for 2008.

If the weather is nice on Tuesday, I might be able to go out to the cemetery in the morning to check the new rows that I transcribed last summer. Might even try Monday after work. Definitely need to do that before I start the indexing for O, S and T. There are a few new stones in N that need to be proofed as well.

After I have completed indexing G, I will go on to N. Section O will take quite awhile as the transcription for that section alone is almost 80 pages - approx. 25% of the entire cemetery! Then P, R1, R2, R3, S and T. Those sections total 17 pages of transcription so should not take long. Might even skip over O and do those first.

Our branch is hosting a 1/2 day seminar at the beginning of October and I would really like to have this transcription ready by then. In order to have it published and ready for sale, I need to have it all put together by mid-September. There is more than just the indexing that needs to be done. I have to go through all the data I have gathered for the history. So much information is available it will be hard to figure out what to eliminate. I also have to go through the box I was given and try to find the names of all the helpers for the front of the publication. The map needs to be updated too as there are new rows to add, as well as two new sections. The transcription is over 300 pages, and I'm sure the index will be over 100. It's currently sitting at 47 pages, and that does not include C through F. I have not merged Section M yet - that is another 17 pages. The index might end up around 150 pages. Time will tell.

Aurora & Briar Hill Cemeteries

2008-06-15T18:20:00.004-04:00

Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Aurora Cemetery index for Section K has now been completed, proofed, and updated. Some time during the week I will get to Sections L and L1. I have handed Sections M and MX over to another of the Exec Council members to index. Still have not heard from the volunteers doing Sections C to F, so I'm guessing they have decided they can't, or don't have time, to do the indexing. Am hoping to have this published by fall of 2008.

The Briar Hill Cemetery publication has now been printed and is available for $20. It is in two parts, together in one publication. It can be ordered from the York Branch website - link to the right of this page.

Aurora Cemetery Index update

2008-06-01T21:58:00.000-04:00

Sunday, June 1, 2008
It's been almost one week since I emailed the volunteers for an update on their progress indexing their sections for the Aurora Cemetery Index. Neither has responded. I skipped those section, and have completed the indexing for Sections H and J, and have proofed and corrected them. I just completed indexing Section K tonight, but still have to print and proof it. Will provide typed report for the Executive meeting tomorrow.

Aurora Cemetery Index update

2008-05-26T21:09:00.003-04:00

Monday, May 26, 2008
I've skipped over sections C through G as I've given those to volunteers to do - not sure if I gave section G away or not. Haven't emailed the volunteers yet, but plan to do that tonight to see what progess they have made, and which sections each one has. I've finished Sections H, J, and K1 cremations. Still have to print them and proof/correct. That will be done over the next few nights. Should be able to start the rest of section K before the end of the week. That will take about 3 hours to do initially, and there are some new transcriptions from last summer that need to be proofed. Another trip to the cemetery next weekend I expect. Section L should take another couple of hours. Don't know if I will get to that this weekend or not. It doesn't look like there is anything there to check fortunately.

Long Weekend Update

2008-05-17T21:08:00.002-04:00

May 17, 2008
Finally finished indexing Aurora Cemetery Sections A and B. All the corrections have been noted and updated on the computer. There are a few odd things I noticed in the transcription that I will have to check out at the cemetery. Might do that tomorrow. Will try to email the volunteers this weekend to see how they are doing on their sections, then I will start indexing the next section. Still hoping to publish it no later than fall 2008.

York Region Cemetery Transcript Updates

2008-05-10T17:22:00.002-04:00

MAY 10 2008
Roaches Point Cemetery was re-transcribed last year and has been published. That was not planned, but rather just fell into our laps courtesy of one of our members. It's great that members take the initiative, but it might be a good idea to check with the branch before undertaking something just in case it is already being worked on. No need to have several people doing the same thing. You may also need to find out about formats as we do require the information to be a specific way. If you have a project in mind, let us know and if we are already doing it, I'm sure there will be something you can do to help. Volunteers are ALWAYS welcomed.

Finally got the Briar Hill Cemetery completed. A volunteer redrew the maps with CADD and they look super. They were submitted for publication last week and should be off to the printer shortly.

Back to the Aurora Cemetery transcript. Will continue to work on the index - Section A is complete and Section B is almost complete. Will print and proof them. Still waiting for the volunteers to submit Sections C through F. I will continue on with G once I have done the proofing.

Now that the weather is clearing up I can get back to the cemetery and proof the new stones that were transcribed last summer. Already have the pictures that I want to use for the transcripts. Wonder if they will let me in to take internal photos of the dead house??? Hopefully it is empty! Will also ask if I can go to into the vault for photos.

There is a lot of information for the history so that will not be a problem. The trick will be editing it down. Need to revise the map too. Hoping to have this one ready before fall.

Next on the list is Newmarket Cemetery. The proofing was completed last summer, so I have to do the computer updates on the transcript and the index. Have pictures, but history is a problem as there is not much info available. Will try the Museum in Newmarket.

Still on the waiting list is, in no particular order, Elmwood Cemetery (Markham), Mount Albert Cemetery, and Queensville Cemetery. They all need to be re-proofed as they were transcribed possibly as long ago as 10 years. Well before I took over as Cemetery Co-ordinator.

Having a problem finding any information on Elmwood. Will welcome any tips for sources of info. Haven’t tried to find anything on Queensville or Mount Albert. No rush as those won’t be worked on in 2008, unless someone starts the transcription proofing and adding the new “residents”.