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Cemetery committee sends call for help
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St. Mark’s Anglican Cemetery in High Prairie is the community’s
oldest cemetery, dating back 100 years to 1909.
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Many of the grave sites are in bad need of repair, including the one above.
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Stella Sware
South Peace News
St. Mark’s Anglican Cemetery remains where it started in 1909. The oldest cemetery in High Prairie is a final resting place for our community, although over 50 per cent of the people buried there are not Anglican.
The church is not in a position to utilize church funds to maintain a community cemetery.
The Town of High Prairie has been mowing the grass for all town cemeteries. Tim Stokes has done a great job and we hear many comments on how nice the cemetery looks.
The donations we receive have helped put in a new north fence, new gates and walk-throughs, flower beds and a cremation plot with a fence around it. We planted 12 poplar trees to represent the 12 apostles. Six new benches will be placed on site this spring.
Volunteers have attended work bees cleaning, filling holes, etc. Thanks to all who help.
We also have a health and safety issue. There are many sunken and broken grave tops that require repair or replacement. We also have rodent problems at some of the grave sites. In some cases we are unable to contact family members to receive funding or permission to make the necessary repairs. These conditions have created an unsafe environment for people working or walking in the cemetery. There is a real and present risk of equipment damage while grass cutting or stepping into a hole or hollow while walking.
All our maps and paper work are updated and complete. All this work is done except for one issue since 1909. There have been approximately 185 persons buried in the cemetery who have no designated plot on record. These unknown grave sites are a result of a fire several years ago and other missing documentation. Many of the unknown grave sites were for babies. We intend to put up a memorial granite wall with these names engraved on it. The cost of the memorial will be approximately $20,000 for the granite lab, engraving and installation.
We are looking for financial help with the community project. If you would like to know if your loved ones name will be put on the wall, call 780-523-3996. All donations will be given a tax receipt. Please send your donation to St. Mark’s Cemetery Committee, Box 476, High Prairie, Alta., T0G 1E0.
The beautification of the cemetery is happening with your help. The angels are watching.
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