Thanks to the Jackson Cemetery Committee and some industrious high school students, the city cemetery is receiving some much-needed repairs and a new monument. The committee chairman, Warren Carleton, introduced the committee members and provided an overview of the committee’s recent efforts. A wooden gazebo that was originally constructed by Jackson Boy Scout Troup 478 had fallen victim to vandals over time.  With the help of Parkey’s Welding, the committee used city funds and private donations to rebuild the gazebo out of steel to make it more durable and vandal-proof. 

Also, new signs have been mounted at cemetery entrances that bear the City of Jackson logo and ask visitors to “Please respect the cemetery.” Additionally, a new sign is in the works to honor and mark the graves of the miners killed in the 1922 Argonaut Mine Tragedy. The committee has also completed some gravesite repairs with the help of the County Probation Department’s community service program.  In addition, the committee has plans to revitalize the children’s cemetery, a project spearheaded by Cemetery Sexton, Charline Buckley. 

Those plans include installing a low-post boundary fence and better marking some of the gravesites.  Buckley says she wants to provide visitors and relatives with a nice area to visit. Most of the children in that area died in the 1950’s and 60’s.  And finally, ten students from Argonaut High School have volunteered to erect a Chinese monument in the cemetery as part of their leadership class.  Sydni Nicolici, the student chairperson on the project, says they are building the monument so “they can help everyone understand” about the Chinese aspect of the cemetery. The project will add an inscription to an existing pillar, and the finished monument will include a ceremonial stone, a dedication stone, bamboo, trees, and a small rock wall.  The students are working with a contractor and have thus far drawn up plans.  Their next step will be to seek out donated materials and labor to complete the project.