Middletown Cemetery Vault
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Engineering
Forum Description: City Engineering Department
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4151
Printed Date: Nov 21 2024 at 11:02pm
Topic: Middletown Cemetery Vault
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: Middletown Cemetery Vault
Date Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 10:59am
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Friends of the
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Replies:
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 11:34am
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Nice effort on your part from beginning to end Vivian. Just totally unnecessary and meaningless for the city to have given you and your volunteer group, all the grief you encountered over the years. In the end, IMO, the correct decision was made.
Want to thank the cemetery board folks out there for their efforts on the continuation of the improvements from a long neglected piece of the town's history. I would like to think that if my grandfather were alive, he would have thanked the people who are responsible for the newfound interest in the cemetery. Remember as a kid, going with him to the Stillwaugh gravesite to unload the lawnmower, cut the small plot, use hand trimmers (weed eaters weren't invented then) to trim around the stones and do it all over again in a week or two. Back then, we two visited the gravesite there and those at Woodside often. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 12:51pm
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Vet |
Posted By: ground swat
Date Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 7:12pm
| Bravo!!!!!! If you own something take care of it, thats how hard it is. The Board stepped up and got one more thing on the LIST happening. Good call on the LEADERSHIP change. It ain't always easy to make everyone happy. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 11:16am
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I’m sorry for the misinformation…. |
Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 6:42pm
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[QUOTE=Vivian Moon]
I’m sorry for the misinformation…. I always say never post anything unless you have done your research and you have your facts right, especially since we never know who is reading this and other blogs...
I see you have only thanked three donors above in your post. There were alot more people who donated not only funds but the time to go out and get the funds that are now restoring the Vault.
First of all I would like to thank Mitchell Ballard for all his help with getting the funding in the last six months by letting us know again that a letter writing campaign will always work. I would also like to thank the above mentioned donors and the ones listed below. Without your generousity projects like this would never happen.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 8:18pm
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As a born and bred Middletonian for 63 years, I would like to thank Vivian Moon and her volunteers who brought this whole thing to the community's attention years ago and who endured some of the city's "indescretions" in handling this whole affair. I would also like to thank the person. or persons who filed the complaint against the city, resulting in a hearing in Columbus as to the city's indifference to this, and finally, I thank the cemetery board and the new folks who are involved in this newfound interest in an old cemetery which was being forgotten.
All of your efforts are appreciated by the citizens, especially those who have family buried there. 
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 8:49pm
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Ms Morrison I always try to do my research and get all the facts right. Houston Bros gave me the information last week and this week also. So as you can see I did go to the source. The total cost of the restoration of the stonework on the vault is $43,000. When this funding went before City Council they stated that the $43,000 was from three donors: Martha Newton Estate…………………..…..$25,000 Middletown Community Foundation….....$15,000 W. S. Smith History Grant……………….....$3,000 TOTAL……………………………………….....……$43,000 Also Dan Tracy will be donating a termite application for the vault next spring. I presume that the other donations that you listed will be used for the roof, cupola, new steel doors and other items next spring. |
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 9:28pm
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Kudos to Viv, my latest Facebook friend.
You are doing the work of the angels. I think He is watching and smiling on your efforts. We must never forget our forefathers and mothers. God Bless you Viv! ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 9:40pm
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Really People? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 6:10am
Please explain. |
da120757 wrote:Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 8:12am
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Really? A cemetery vault!
To everyone that rants about Pendleton and Cincy State but sings the praise of saving the vault. What a waste of money |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 8:14am
| Vivian....always does her homework and gets her facts right? NOT! |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 10:17am
Looks like most of the money that will be used for the restoration of the vault is coming from private donations or grants. Isn't coming from the pockets of the taxpayer is it? IMO, as long as it doesn't infringe on the tax money collected and remains a private venture decision to fund it, shouldn't be an issue, right? As to your comment about Cincy State and the Pendleton......the Pendletown has used several hundred thousand dollars of Middletown taxpayer money and has minimal success to date. Not a good return on investment so far, wouldn't you say. As to Cinci State- over $450,000 worth of taxpayer money used by the city to purchase 4 Thatcher buildings with no firm contract signed for usage......mothballing a bank building and the Manchester, half the buildings bought....AGAIN, USING TAXPAYER MONEY......The vault......minimal to no taxpayer money used......that's the difference Midd 29. Isn't it just a tad bit of a change to see some of the past kept because this group of city leaders are on a "knock everything down/destroy any of the city's past/leave open barren wasteland in it's place" program. As for Vivian.....some may not like her direct approach but shouldn't we all be appreciative for Vivian and her group of volunteers and what they decided to do at the cemetery? Then, to add insult to injury, have it shoved back at them by Gilleland and company for their efforts? An effort by a group of citizens who cared and the city showing no class in their reaction to the effort. Disgusting and childish on the part of the city leaders, IMO. |
Posted By: middletownscouter
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 12:11pm
| Vet, please don't feed the troll. Maybe they'll either go away or start being a constructive member of the community rather than constantly make negative comments as well as personal attacks against other members. |
Posted By: ground swat
Date Posted: Oct 11 2011 at 5:11pm
| Theres know better way to discourage help than not focusing on the issue. WE own this parcel of land, it needs attention. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 13 2011 at 6:44pm
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Several years after the vault was built in 1878 they lined the inside of the vault with brick that was manufactured in Other workmen have started grinding out the old mortar and tuck pointing all the loose fieldstone. Houston Bros commented on how well the mason had cut and laid the fieldstone so many years ago. 
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 13 2011 at 7:05pm
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 13 2011 at 7:12pm
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Posted By: viper771
Date Posted: Oct 13 2011 at 7:26pm
| Any idea if they are using lime based mortar or not? |
Posted By: ground swat
Date Posted: Oct 13 2011 at 10:00pm
| Good ? Very nice of Ken from Denny lumber to handle the gate. they might know the answer 771. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 14 2011 at 9:10am
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Viper771 Houston Bros uses a lime base N mortar for all restorations work. They will be tinting the motar on the vault to give it an aged look
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 14 2011 at 9:32am
Vivian....I noticed in your pictures that our city manager isn't assisting in the restoration. Just thought she would like to contribute to the cause. 
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Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 17 2011 at 9:14am
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In May of this year, two of the board members with donations from area businesses planted flowers and laid mulch at the cemetery to help beautify it for Memorial Day Weekend and one of the Board Members took charge of the Bright Spot Planters. Last Sunday I went to the Cemetery to Lock the gate and Noticed that someone has planted new flowers in the front flower beds at the cemetery. They look beautiful and I would like to say thank you to whomever did this. It is a bright spot...
Deb Morrison, Middletown Cemetery Board Member
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 17 2011 at 2:37pm
Your news is refreshing to hear. Again, want to thank the board for the effort made to rectify what was once a bad situation. You know what the frustrating thing is Ms. Morrison? What you described in your post was already done by Ms. Moon and her volunteer group and removed. We basically re-invented the wheel on the landscaping effort here, didn't we? Such a shame some city leaders couldn't grow up and had to do the power thing by removing what was once there. 
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Posted By: viper771
Date Posted: Oct 17 2011 at 8:12pm
| Thanks for the mortar info. I am glad that they are using the correct type of mortar. I guess a little portland cement won't cause any problems since they are repointing stones. If it was soft brick, that would be another story. |
Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 18 2011 at 8:21am
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Your news is refreshing to hear. Again, want to thank the board for the effort made to rectify what was once a bad situation. You know what the frustrating thing is Ms. Morrison? What you described in your post was already done by Ms. Moon and her volunteer group and removed. We basically re-invented the wheel on the landscaping effort here, didn't we? Such a shame some city leaders couldn't grow up and had to do the power thing by removing what was once there. [/QUOTE
Hey Vet
Like I have said in the past I appreciate everything that Ms Viv did for the Cemetery which includes 7 years of hard labor, beautifying, and fighting with the City to get this Cemetery back up to code. We as a board still have a long ways to go but we are getting the many problems taken care of it will just take some time. The Vault is being worked on , and the Tombstone Restoration started Monday Morning.
I also agree that what the City workers did by tearing out all of the plantings that Ms Viv put in was dispicable and they should be made to answer to it. It was wrong to destroy all the hard work that Viv and her team did and I think everyone in the city knows this. The word Spite comes to mind. Anyway, with the new flowers planted in the two front flower beds it looks really nice and I still say Thank You to whoever planted them.
Deb Morrison Middletown Cemetery Board
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Oct 18 2011 at 10:52am
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You know, I have read for a year or more about the issues with the cemetary. When I read Ms. Morrison's post, it hit me like a brick.
What kind of city leadership and human beings entrusted to be fair, ethical, and comport with basic tenants of moral fiber, do this to a woman, or for that matter....any human being? Is Middletown Nazi Germany? This is unconscionable nehavior. Ms. Moon and others, but she was the lead champion, gave her time freely, and worked to honor the memory of those who had passed, many who founded the city.
While I personally don't care about the history of Middletown one way or another, it just doesn't matter to me, the fact an indiviaul whom 99.9% of cities in the nation, would give an award for Volunteerism and humanity is ridiculed, shamed, and treated in such a disgustingly vile manner, speaks to the heart of the fabric of corruption, greed, and anarchy which has been Middletown's trademark for many years.
While knowing the battle Ms. Moon was subjected, there was something in Ms. Morrison's words which hit home. There is not a city in America this woman would not have been in the paper receiving an award and recognition for her dedication to maintaining a cemetary. Instead, she has been crucified as if a "Salem witch."
I ask----what in wrong with Middletown leadership, that makes them so vile, so arrogant, so callous, and cruel? I frankly, have no answer.
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Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 18 2011 at 6:13pm
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Being on the Cemetery Board has opened my eyes even wider to how things are handled in the Cemetery, and in the City, in that they do not have to answer to anyone for how they take care of property they own in this city.
I have lived in Middletown my entire life and usually when I say this , people respond, "I feel sorry for you". In 1994 my son had to do a project for Scouts so I took him to the Middletown Cemetery, because this was going to help me with a project that I had started also. For one month we walked the cemetery, and copied the information on all the military markers that we could read. We had fun doing this. After my project was well on its way and he had his project complete , I contacted Art Baer at the City and asked him about getting this cemetery cleaned up. And so it started.
I was on the very first committee in 1995 that took on the chore of trying to get this cemetery cleaned up and looking presentable. My sons Boy Scout Troop 810, Volunteers from Target, Brady Belt, Ken Wills, Dana Pruitt, my family, some City Workers, and many others. We raked fence lines, picked up trash cut down trees and bushes, we re-graveled the driveways, and even started replacing the Veterans Tombstones that were unreadable and broken. This lasted all of about 2 years, then it all went back to the way it was being ignored except for the minimum maintenance that the city had to do cutting grass, empyting trash cans and picking up dead trees that fell or were blown down. The City did not care about this Cemetery then or in 1947 when they took control of it or today in 2011.
I really felt bad about how this cemetery was being treated but when I called and asked them why nothing more was being done in this historic place i was told even back then we do not have the money to take care of the cemetery. My father worked for the City of Middletown and he told me that there was a perpetual care fund for that cemetery????, No one knows where this money went and there is never any mention to it in any city records.
Ok I get it that not everyone in Middletown cares about this cemetery I get that, but there are decendants of those buried in this cemetery that do care and would like to see it taken care of. I have family buried here. It is a shame that Vivian was treated the way she was after volunteering all her time and her friends who helped her. So I can say I have no answer why the City did what they did, I can only guess.
Deb Morrison
Middletown Cemetery Board
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Oct 18 2011 at 6:55pm
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Ms. Morrison, your efforts are commendable as well. I think I know the answer: it is lack of empathy by the city. Some learn it is better to function as "we go" versus "me go." Unfortuantely for the city, it has been "me go" for too many decades. While difficult to comprehend the neglect, the motivation is quite "clear." Thank you for your dedication and years to servicing the facility, as have others, doing the chores the city should have done all along.
Neglect earns no RESPECT.
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 19 2011 at 9:51am
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October 19, 2011 In the Who is responsible for the care of the That has been the million dollar question that really needed to be answered. Over the years I have discussed this fact with numerous city officials and also the Park Board members since the This year the Board approved the Middletown Cemetery Tombstone Restoration Project from a grant approved and submitted by the Park Board. I have been told for 8 years that the cemetery was the responsibility of Public Works however I can find NO documentation that states the responsibility of the cemetery was ever removed from the Parks Dept. So it seems that the Page 25 Please remember that in 1947 the Parks Department mowed their own grass and cared for only a few parks plus the 3 swimming pools. My research shows that over the years the cemetery was just simply ignored by the Parks Dept. Later when the mowing was taken over by the Public Works Dept the cemetery was included. As the city added more parks the care and needs of the cemetery went to the bottom of the list and was once more simply ignored. Over the years numerous volunteer groups stepped up and cleaned the cemetery however the city did not continue the maintenance and soon the cemetery reverted back to its unsightly condition. While working at the cemetery family members told me that for years they would bring their mowers to the cemetery to cut the grass on family gravesites because the city refused to care for the property. So here we are 60 years later still trying to get the City of RESEARCH Page 21 Gardner-Richardson Employment Office Present; Ivo Beedle, R. C. Dowling, Walter Geckeler, Ross Kramer This meeting was called by Ivo Beedle who has been absent from the city for several weeks and found it necessary to make decisions on several urgent matters. A letter from Bob Russell that had been forwarded by the Police Chief was read and discussed. Mr. Russell objected to the transfer of the dance at The purchase of fencing that Matt Ryan had been authorized to buy was questioned and Ivo was to contact Matt Ryan in regard to same. Ross Kramer asked for a ruling on what procedure should be followed in handling Swimming Pool Admission money during the summer months. Mr. Beedle will contact the city manager. Mr. Dowling said that he had been contacted in regard to the Park Board taking over the job of grass cutting at the Mr. Beedle was authorized to see Mr. Pochel in regard to making plans to build a comfort station at Barnitz Field. This comfort station is to include two toilets for ladies, two toilets for men plus one urinal, two drinking fountains, and lighted and in keeping with the surroundings. Mr. Beedle is to check with Mr. Pochel in regard to the paint bids for Sunset Pool. The Park Board decided to accept the bid of $300.00 of Stella Beatty for the Sunset Pool lunch stand for the summer season and the bid of Mrs. Kenner of $100.00 per summer season for the lunch stand at Douglas Pool. The Park Board insists that the proprietors of each lunch stand keep the grounds clean around each lunch stand. Meeting Adjourned at Signed: R. C. Dowling, Secretary Attested: Ivo Beedle, President Gardner-Richardson Employment Office Present; Ivo Beedle, R. C. Dowling, Robert Hayes, Ross Kramer Ivo Beedle made a motion that the Park Board abandon the Supervised Recreation activities for the season on Friday July 30, 1948, but to continue operating the three Swimming Pools until about September 1m 1948, and that the maintenance crew of Matt Ryan be reduced from 4 men to 2 men. This action was made mandatory due to lack of funds. After a full discussion of the conditions which face the Board it was finally decided that the best solution of the problem was to offer the youngsters the present pool facilities. The present budget did not provide for any additional funds over that of a year ago and since materials and labor costs have increased the program must be curtailed. The above motion was seconded by R. C. Dowling and was unanimously approved by all members of the Park Board. It was also decided that it was necessary to give up the care of the Mr. Beedle agreed to meet Mr. Geckeler and decide what part of the Recreation Program could be maintained by him alone. Meeting adjourned at Signed: R. C. Dowling, Secretary Attest: Ivo Beedle, President |
Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 19 2011 at 10:01pm
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I do not think it matters at this point who is in control of the Cemetery (the Parks Department or Public Works) the point here and now as in the past is that the City refuses to put any money into the cemetery, hence the efforts of the Cemetery Board to raise the funds to get the Vault and some of the other work completed in the Cemetery. I do not know what you are trying to do with keeping your fight with the city out in the spotlight. I do know that you are making it difficult for us to get the funding that we will need to finish the vault. I do not know how else to say it to you Vivian, but geez back off, and let the board do their business. We are getting things done, am I right? We have workers on the Vault, and we have workers on the Headstones. I know that all of this is not happening as fast as you think it should but give us time to get things accomplished. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Oct 19 2011 at 11:14pm
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Ms. Morrison, do I understand this correctly, that you are stating that in spite of a city ordinance that the cemetary will be maintained to certain standards, which I understood the city failed to meet, the city is not willing to fund any dollars into this project, and having the cemetry Board raise the funds? And if so, why is the cemetray Board doing what the city ordinance mandates the city do? Gee, maybe Duane Gordon wou;d lend a hand for fund raising after the "conductor" effort has run its course.
I can see why a business might be hesitant to contribute if the city isn't puttting any money into this, and adhering to the ordinance. What an irony, the city smacks city councilman AJ Smith about the tax ordinance, and the Board is having to raise money for maintenance the city refused to do, based upon violating its own ordinance.
Too much to take in the town.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 6:15am
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acclaro.....
"What an irony, the city smacks city councilman AJ Smith about the tax ordinance, and the Board is having to raise money for maintenance the city refused to do, based upon violating its own ordinance" Isn't it Leslie Eugene Landens job as Law DIErector to remind the city manager and council that they are in violation of city ordinances? If so, why isn't Leslie doing it other than the fear that Gilleland might hit him on the nose with a wet newspaper and not give him his doggie treat for a job well done?
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Posted By: DuaneGordon
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 10:52am
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For the record, acclaro, I have advised members of the Cemetery Board on multiple occassions since its creation on methods and strategies to raise money for the cemetery. Since the Community Foundation made the $15,000 challenge grant to help pay for the vault repair if they could raise the balance of funding necessary to do the stone work, I have always provided what help I could when they asked. Of course, they did meet the match several weeks ago thanks to a very generous bequest and the work on the vault stonework is now underway. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 11:17am
| Mr. Gordon, I assuredly meant no offense, and meant it in a most constructive manner. I sat on two Fortune 25 Foundation Boards that gave to universities and higher education, so my observation from reading Ms. Morrison's comments was indeed, there would be benefit of having a professional such as yourself contribute if the city was not. I commend your efforts and glad that the money is there for the repairs. I also enjoyed reading about your background, having a few 'ol Miss' family members, besides UVa, my favorite campus in the country is U of Miss; someday we must chat about the events that brought you to Middletown. Usually, a southerner stops the northern descent no further than Lexington (LOL). |
Posted By: DuaneGordon
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 1:45pm
I took no offense  I just wanted to remind those debating this that some groups and some people in the community have stepped up and helped out when needed.
Although I must dissassociate with you now that I know you have Ole Miss contamination, since I'm a proud Mississippi State Bulldog! I couldn't even finish my breakfast Sunday when I saw that kid with the Go Rebs button on his shirt in the Journal's Parade insert magazine
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Posted By: ground swat
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 7:12pm
| Let the Board do their Job. They got handed a mess which the city allowed. 30 some odd post about the Progress for this historical site----------- what does it take to keep everyone happy? Is this a branch of Facebook??? Who would want to get involved locally in this Monkey business of the past? |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 20 2011 at 8:28pm
On Monday,
October 10, I was driving on First Avenue about 6:15 p. m. on my way to a
meet-and-greet at a local church. As I
passed the cemetery, there were two people that appeared to be tending the
flower beds and parked a few feet away was a Bohannon Roofing truck. I cannot
swear that the people tending the beds were from Bohannon, but it certainly
appeared to be so. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Oct 21 2011 at 8:39am
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Mike ....
Thank you for this last post and Yes I did find out at the Last Board Meeting that Steve Bohannon and his wife did plant the flowers in the front flower bed. Thank you Steve for taking care of this they look very nice.
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