4/24/14

"It was an early morning yesterday

I was up before the dawn

And I really have enjoyed my stay

But I must be moving on"

Yesterday was my final day interning with Volusia County in the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department and I cannot believe I am officially done with it. This of course will be my concluding post for this blog, but if you want to follow along with my next great adventures in history and interning feel free to check out my history blog (x).

Yesterday resulted in tying up some loose ends, even starting and completing in less than an hour the final set of cemetery headstone inscriptions for Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery. It was a fairly quiet day overall, with just filing and organizing some final paperwork, which was similar to my first day of headstone inscriptions and organizing.

I was not driving, but stopped when this was taken

I am so grateful for this opportunity to intern within the field of historic preservation especially with a topic so unique and fascinating. I have told countless people about my fieldwork and internship in general, because I am so proud of what I have been learning. I know this experience will carry on with me to graduate school, where I may continue on with historic preservation or dabble with it in the realm of public history. This internship stretched me and taught me more than I can say and I am grateful for all that it has encompassed this past semester.

4/15/14

Man, oh man was this week a busy one! From continuous paperwork on Wednesday to the lecture on Saturday, it was never a dull moment! (Also I apologize for the lack of new pictures, I was in the zone for this week and forgot to take pictures. Thus the pictures I will be using are unique things I have come across this semester.)

As always, Wednesday was more paperwork and I think there is a real shot of me finishing the Union Cemetery inscriptions tomorrow if I keep my nose to the grindstone.

Friday was full of creating slides and scurrying around to make everything work before the lecture, because when else would I create slides except the day before they’re needed? They turned out pretty good, with just a few revisions that were needed after I left work for the day. By Friday, I was becoming such a nervous wreck with the lecture since that was part of my internship requirement for UCF.

Saturday was an interesting day for upon arrival at Debary Hall I discovered that a wedding was taking place and so the Lemonade Lecture was moved to the theatre, where the moving seats are located in order to provide a more unique experience when viewing their introductory film about the history of the house. There was a smaller attendance for the lecture, but I can understand, but those who did attend were curious about cemetery preservation and asked very intuitive questions. During me section of the lecture, which focused on creating awareness of cemeteries and their need to be preserved, I know I talked too fast nor did I enunciate nearly as well as I should have. Sadly, this nervous ticks were due at the last minute nerves got the best of me, which is funny since last week I was at a Showcase Event and speaking there was a breeze. 

I can tell that I will have an intertwining career around cemeteries since I am starting to question about the history and state of cemeteries located in near the town I live in. In addition, I am going on a vacation in the Caribbean soon and I am curious if there are any cemeteries that would be accessible to where I will be, for I would love to see how cemeteries are taken care of and also the different looks and iconography that may be prevalent throughout.  I have finally accepted my fate that I am a taphophile (someone who likes cemeteries in a none creepy way). 

4/9/14

I want to apologize for how late the publication of this blog post is, this past weekend I had personal things, including being sick, interfere with posting. In addition, I am sad to say that past Friday (1/4/14) was the last field day for this internship. I cannot believe how quickly the time has past and that this Saturday is the Lemonade Lecture already! April has just flown on by and I am not sure I am ready to be finished with this internship, but all’s well that ends well!

           

            On Wednesday I knocked out a majority of the Union Cemetery Inscription, allowing for only the recently accounted for burials needing to be inputted into the word document. It is a massive cemetery and seeing the 25 pages of names that need to be compiled into the master inscription document appears to be a somewhat daunting task, but I look forward to the feeling of relief I will encounter once I have tackled it.

One of several broken in crypts

      Timing was apropos for I worked on Union/Orange Baker Cemetery Inscription on Wednesday and then one of the first cemeteries we visited on Friday was Union/ Orange baker. My boss has told me how disarray and saddening it is, but nothing can truly prepare you for the sadness that clings to the air. Since this is an African American Cemetery, it is sad to see the state of the cemetery from vandalism to mournful homemade headstones. I’ve seen previous acts of vandalism with obelisks pushed over and headstones broken, but it pales in comparison to Union where actual vaults were broken into and the way to rectify it is by placing plywood on top. However, it is quite evident that the plywood is quite old and is being used as a more permanent fix then it should be. It is maddening to see the state this cemetery is in, when there are so many people buried here. However, there is something sadder then the acts of vandalism-it is the handmade burial markers which include cinder blocks and wood outlining. It is obvious the loved ones of whoever is buried there could only afford those items instead of the ornate granite or marble headstones, it’s so sad that money becomes such a force even in times of despair. I admire that there are people who decided to build something, instead of leaving just a funereal home marker, which will erode away or become lost quite quickly. It just made my heart so heavy to see that Cemetery, and even now it is the saddest and most desolate of cemeteries that I have encountered my entire internship. Union Cemetery is interesting just with the size of it, but the sorrow that permeates throughout cannot be missed nor ignored. 

           

            We also visited Beresford Cemetery, which was in the middle of this clearing just along the side of the road. It was very picturesque and it had a fascinating headstone that was a gigantic black rock. I found it to be so raw and unusual that I think it might be one of my favorite headstones that I have seen. After seeing Union Cemetery and then visiting this one, there was an obvious difference in regards to the upkeep of the cemetery. Which I find horrible, I wish that all cemeteries were all well taken care for and pleasing to visit like Oakdale or Beresford Cemetery. However, life does not work like that and that is why creating awareness in preservation is key: so cemeteries like Union can receive the care and treatment it truly deserves.

            I’ll wrap up this blog for now seeing as I need to start preparing for the Lemonade Lecture on Saturday and wrap up the few loose ends that are still left for me. I know in the last few posts I keep mentioning how I am amazed about how quickly time has gone by, but I feel cannot truly express how shocked I am by it. I have learned a lot from this internship and I am excited to see what all I take with me in regards to graduate school and future jobs.

4/1/14

Unfortunately, last week I was not able to go into work on Wednesday due to fulfilling my part as an active member of society by attending jury duty. Friday as usual, was field day and led to interesting finds, but also caused to me reflect on the act of cemetery preservation as well.

A weathered handmade marker

Mr. Jacksons (left) & Commissioner Engele (Right)

      The group of us went out to the Oak Hill area, which is not far from Edgewater or New Smyrna Beach, and we visited four cemeteries. The first two were the Saints and Sinners Cemeteries, then Oak Hill Cemetery, and ending at the Clinton family cemetery. The Saints and Sinners Cemeteries are two different African American cemeteries that are located out in the middle of a forested area away from the regular hustle and bustle of the town. Since we were unsure of the location and also since there is a locked gate, we were escorted by two incredibly helpful men, City Commissioner Ron Engele and Abraham Jackson.  Ron Engele became fascinated by the idea of preserving the cemeteries a few years ago after its status was brought to his attention and he realized that due to the location on private property the city couldn’t intervene in preservation. Therefore, he and Abraham Jackson have gathered a group of men who have dedicated their free time to clearing out the overgrowth and preserving the remaining headstones while also keeping one as an active cemetery.

A fallen concrete cross that was most likely part of the headstone originally

            

       The cemeteries showcase a great example of how different materials for headstones or as markers react differently to weather and aging. For the most part in the Sinners Cemetery, all of the markers were constructed from concrete, which is an incredibly porous material and is affected by the elements very easily. Besides wood, this is a preservationist’s nightmare for the inscriptions could be completely weather-beaten or have eroded away entirely. I’m always saddened when I see eroded, broken, or just decrepit headstones/obelisks/markers. For that item once held a small peek into the history of whoever is interred there, it was a glimpse into their life and it has become lost to time now.  If only more people could become educated about the proper techniques in preserving different materials, even concrete, it could create a lasting impact in regards to the future of historic cemeteries.  If anyone is interested in the beginning of June, the CRPT Alliance is hosting a conference, which will include educating attendees proper techniques in regards to preserving historic headstones. If you are interested in learning more about this conference you can check it out here (x)! 

A headstone destroyed buy a bullet I found

            While I am on the topic of creating awareness in cemetery preservation there is a sensation in reality television that is encouraging vandalism more than promoting understanding of the past and those who are potentially buried there. I discovered this through an online petition to stop this sensationalized act. On three different channels, there are televisions shows that focus and inevitably glorify the pursuit of discovering artifacts and jewelry at battlefields, parks, and private property. These shows do get permission for their searches, but how many people are watching the shows and do their own hunting without receiving permission or thinking about their actions? What concerns me is the audience reaction and if this will begin a fad of treasure hunters. For when not properly done it can lead to the loss of historical and archeological context or the act of grave robbing could become a phenomenon again because there could be a priceless artifact there they just have to get. Noticeably, I am very passionate about this issue and I find this to be a prime example of why proper awareness of the importance of preserving cemeteries (and historic sites) is vital now more than ever. I’m getting off my soapbox now… Clearly, this internship has led me to think about how one’s actions can cause a ripple effect with preservation. The more educated people become about preserving cemeteries and other overlooked sites the greater a chance of it truly happening in a massive way and allowing for a more historically minded society as well.

3/25/14

As this month is wrapping up, I have to start preparing for the end of my internship as well. I cannot believe how quickly this internship has gone by. It feels as if just yesterday I went out on my first field visit!

            Wednesday included working on finishing touches on the histories of a few cemeteries I’ve been working on and comparing inscription found by Daphne Brown in the early seventies with more recent findings. I’m hoping I can have the few remaining cemeteries I’m assigned to complete in the next two weeks or so.

Mother of Willie Eldridge

Willie Eldridge-died 1877, moved to Oakdale in 1881

            Friday was interesting for we only visited one cemetery and that was the Oakdale Emporia Cemetery. It’s out by a multitude of ferneries and allowed for a very visually appealing and fascinating drive. The cemetery is now run by just one man, who has been actively working to cleanup the excess of trees/shrubs/bush in the surrounding area to help the cemetery expand. Which we are all grateful for since it helped to solve a mystery of the location of the two oldest burials. Daphne Brownell marked it as outside of the fenced area of the cemetery, but when searches that are more recent have occurred, the burials have not been found around the perimeter. So on Friday we were tentative of what we would find, but the aforementioned man was able to show us to a newly cleared area wherein laid the two oldest burials in the cemetery. Before the clearing, it would have been basically in the woods and incredibly difficult to find if one didn’t know where to truly look. I thought it was really exciting to see how well preserved the headstones appear after having been unwatched for such a long period of time.

Willie's footstone

            After the visit to the Oakdale Emporia Cemetery, we talked about our internship presentation, which UCF history department has as a mandatory aspect of interning. It has worked out that we will be presenting April 12^th at the DeBary Hall for a Lemonade Lecture. It’ll be about an hour or so with my boss, my co-intern, and myself presenting about different aspects of preservation in regards to cemeteries. Though I am a little nervous about it, I am glad that this is more of an informal setting and by that point I will be comfortable with presenting research due to the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence  where my friends and I  will be presenting research from another project. April is going to be a crazy month and I am still trying to come to terms to the fact that this semester and internship is almost over. It has been a fascinating journey and I’m excited to see where this last month leads.