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Vermont Agency of Transportation
Archaeological and Historic Resources |
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The Swanton Church Street Cemetery Revitalization Project |
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Grave Stone Repair Photo Gallery
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Not long ago, a trip to the Church Street Cemetery in Swanton
was an eerie event indeed. Plagued by vandals and the unstoppable effects
of time, the historic graveyard, containing stones of some of the town's oldest
citizens from as early as 1800, as well as Civil War heroes
Corporal
William A. Church and Lt. Stephen F.
Brown, was in sad shape, and yet, revival
seemed near impossible. |
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the funds they bring with them, signifying a complete lack of budget with which to administer the estimated $3000 of annual upkeep and maintenance. Public officials and
community-minded citizens decided that something had to be done. A
gathering of townsfolk came to the conclusion that a general cleanup was
necessary, as well as the installation of a fence surrounding the grounds to
discourage vandals, but the bill would be high. The solution came in the
form of a group of young adults willing to commit themselves fully to the
improvement of their community and environment. They are members of the
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), a statewide program that strives to
instill the values of responsibility, hard work, education and respect for the
environment in young people between the ages of 16 and 24 by engaging them in
projects designed to enhance Vermont's natural and cultural resources.
Though most projects are more wilderness related than the cemetery restoration,
focusing on improving trails and wildlife enhancement, the criteria list
provided by VTrans for the administration of their $250,000 of annual grants is
extensive. As a designated site on Swanton's Walking Tour of the Historic
District, the cemetery fell under the provision for facilities for pedestrians
and/or bicyclists, as well as the provisions for safety and educational
activities for pedestrians and/or bicyclists, landscaping or other scenic
beautification, and historic preservation.
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 Click here for larger image Crew members engage in discussing the day's topic from their books. 
Click here for larger image The crew clears brush and installs fencing along the back of the cemetery.  Click here for larger image Arthur Hyde works with crew members to pour a new gravestone base. |
Responsibility for the Church Street Cemetery project was assumed by one of the
VYCC's community crews, a group of nine local residents, all 16 and 17 years
old, under the direction of crew leaders Chantal Kremar and Brian Emerson.
The group lived in their prospective homes but reconvened daily to work together
in Swanton. The leaders strove to instill values of community involvement
and responsibility in their troop, augmenting the physical service performed
daily with discussion groups and workshops built to expose the young adults to a
wide array of prominent issues. Lunchtime meals included circle
conversation on relevant topics to the day provided by a VYCC book entitled
"WoRD". Topics included affirmative action, environmental impact
and degradation, land ethics, and the U.S. role in world situations. These
lunches concluded with reflective journal entries directed by crew members'
questions, prompting further contemplation of the day's topic.
For four weeks their work continued as the group cleared brush and cleaned the periphery of the cemetery to install the fencing, landscaping and beautifying as they went. They worked together with gravestone renewal expert, Arthur Hyde, from the Vermont Old Cemetery Association, who kindly volunteered his time and knowledge to erect and fix the stones, fallen and broken from years of neglect. Overall, the team managed to restore over sixty gravestones in the Church Street cemetery and erect a fence surrounding approximately half of its area.
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Upon completion of the project, a reception was held by the Swanton Historical
Society on cemetery grounds to thank those involved and draw attention to the
benefits so clearly visible around them. There is still much that can be
done to continue to improve conditions at the cemetery. Community members and the Swanton Selectboard hope to
install a more decorative fence along the front portion of the graveyard to
intimidate vandals while maintaining the pleasant decor that attracts pedestrian
visitors today. Though many stones have been patched, the longevity of the
repairs is still in question. Further support and monetary funds are
necessary to maintain the improvements, which should be seen by all as a model
of the type of community enhancement that can be accomplished with the ingenuity
and hard work of just a few dedicated citizens.
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 Click here for larger image Ron Kilburn, President of the Swanton Historical Society opens the reception by thanking those who participated in the cemetery restoration effort. |
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Helpful related links! Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) Swanton Historical Society Find your local historical society in Vermont
Article by Julia Delafield, Archaeologist |
