A Huge Anniversary

Fairview Cemetery, Colfax Co., in Raton NM

Today marks exactly twelve years ago that New Mexico Tombstone Transcription Project began.  It was the day after the horrors of September 11 that about 15 people met at the Cherry Hills Library and learned what this project was about.  I didn't think anyone would show up but I was surprised by the curiosity and eagerness of these volunteers.  Just a few days later I had another training session with another 18 people!  Everyone was so interested in the project and wanted to help.

From the very first day, Al Winkeljohn and Betty Lamberti (she was at the second training) have been with my group.  They still show up almost every time, which is about 5 times a month.  They are both still interested, eager and dedicated. 

In these twelve years, we have advanced the knowledge of cemeteries in the state of New Mexico by finding many, many sites that were generally unknown.  Today we have identified 1864 cemeteries or gravesites.  Either Wink or I have been to 455 of these.  As it stands (today), San Miguel county has the most burial sites at 132.

The dedicated volunteers that give up hours each month to further this project are:

Al Winkeljohn (started 2001)

Betty Lamberti (started 2001)

Barb Borowy (started 2005)

Gloria Henderson (started 2007)

B.J. Minshall (started 2008)

Lee Miller (started 2009)

Diane Bloom (started 2010)

Sharon Serrano (started 2010)

and my loving, dedicated, sweet husband, Rich who has always been there

 

I had started this project in 2000, completing Gate of Heaven Cemetery on my own and very happy that there are many more to help me now.  Today I am continually grateful that my friends have stayed with this group and still want to do this project.  We are no longer a 'group of volunteers' but a family.

 

In addition, I have a dedicated group of transcribers busy entering the information from what we have written into the computer so it can be uploaded to the website.  They are:

 

Jackie Rhodes - who has been doing this 6 years! 

(For the last 2-3 years she has continued transcribing from her new home in Waco, TX)

Mary Kamoss

Michel King

Jessica Smead

Carrie Ackerson

 

One additional volunteer is Tory Eastman and her mother who live in Alamogordo, NM.  Tory single-handed took pictures of every grave at Monte Vista Cemetery in Alamogordo (a large cemetery).  The transcribers still have some of her work to complete.  And Tory's mother has faithfully been doing the Obit Times for the Alamogordo Daily News.  This too, adds tremendously to our information.

 

Every single one of these wonderful volunteers have a special place reserved for them in heaven.  Hopefully there won't be any cemeteries for them to walk, write or transcribe there.  They can rest eternally knowing they have added to the history and ancestry of all peoples on earth.

 

 



German Cemetery

Lee Miller, from our Tombstone group, sent these pictures to me of a German cemetery in the countryside of Luxemburg. 

This plaque is on the mass grave containing 4,829 German soldiers who fought in World War II

Philmont Scout Ranch

This weekend we took Gregory to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM.  He is working on his Eagle Scout project and needed to meet with some staff members to discuss his project.  He will be documenting burial sites on the Philmont property later this year.

Of course we had to look for cemeteries while we were up there as well as on the way home.  This wasn't a very successful trip as we were looking for a total of 12 cemeteries and only found five!  Total miles driven was 511.

Mountain View Cemetery, Cimarron

Martinez Cemetery on Philmont Scout Ranch

San Antonio Catholic Churchyard at Angel Fire

Valdez Cemetery between Springer and Rayado

Abreu Cemetery on Philmont Scout Ranch







 

Unique Cemetery in United States

This cemetery is the "Key West Cemetery" in Key West, Florida.  It was established in 1847 after a previous cemetery washed out to sea after a hurricane.  This 19 acre cemetery is on the highest elevation in Key West at Soldier's Hill, barely 5' above high tide line.  There are approximately 75,000 burials here, both rich and poor and many stacked on top of other graves.  Many graves are above ground due to the very high water table on the island.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Lee Miller for sending additional photos.

 

Around the World Part 3

In Bergen, Norway, there are many small cemeteries dotted throughtout the city.  As we toured the city, I was able to catch a few of them.  Most are on small plots of ground, next to houses or businesses and on the main streets.

Map of where Bergen, Norway is located

The Original Tombstone Group

2001 The first Tombstone group at Mt Calvary.  This group included Betty Lamberti and Al Winkeljohn who are still with the group in 2013.  Others inlcuded Herb and Sharon Palm, Danielle Sengel, Linda Hobart and Sally Goehring.

Around the World - Part 2

 

Torrance County, New Mexico

An article in the April 20, 2013 Wall Street Journal written by Lee Mindel:

America does not have great cemeteries because of our fascination with youth culture.  But places like Sweden do.  Skogskyrkogarden Cemetery, was designed to focus on death, but it is really about nature and life.  Spread over 250 pine-covered acres, it is now a Unesco World Heritage Site owing to its modernist cahpels by architect Gunnar Asplund.  And Greta Garbo is buried there.