Tremont cemeteries well cared for by volunteers
As Valley residents prepare to leave the winter doldrums behind us and dream of spring weather, it’s time to mark your calendars for the annual New Tremont Cemetery spring cleanup.
This year’s cleanup is set for Saturday, May 7.
Late last year, volunteers aged eight to 84 turned out at the Old Tremont Cemetery to participate in what has become one of three annual community workdays at the Tremont cemeteries.
The youngest helper, Willow Belliveau, was an excellent worker and got to hear some of the stories of those buried in the cemetery. She even took a moment to enjoy a cartwheel through a pile of leaves.
Her mother and grandmother also participated in the community workday, along with almost a dozen other volunteers.
Despite all the COVID-19 restrictions in the past couple of years, working in the cemeteries has always allowed for a productive outdoor physical activity enjoyed by friends and families in and around Tremont.
During this community workday, leaf blowers were
used on the top tiers to blow the leaves into the neighbouring field. Rakes were used in the lower section to round up the leaves into piles, and a truck with tarps were used to haul them away to a neighbouring composting area. This made for great teamwork.
It didn’t matter if someone
was only able to stay for an hour or the whole morning, every hand was welcome. By noon, most of the leaves had been gathered and disposed of, and participants were able to carry on with the rest of their day.
The Tremont Cemeteries have been cared for since late 2013 by the Tremont Community Cemetery Society (TCCS), which reclaimed the assets of the cemeteries after the Baptist church moved out of the community.
The society was created by locals who have loved ones buried there and by those who cared about the ongoing maintenance of the cemeteries.
Over the past eight years, work has been done to fix fences, repair monuments and perfect what records were received.
TCCS was granted charity status. The Old Tremont Cemetery was designated as a historical property but, more than that, there has been a great community spirit created. This spirit is not only seen in the interactions of the TCCS, the Western Kings Fair committee and the Nazarene Church community whose lands intersect, but also with local businesses who have helped, volunteers who have taken the time to lend a hand and for people who may live far away but have connections to the cemeteries, who send donations.
Following the spring cleanup, which happens on the Saturday before Mother’s Day in the New Tremont Cemetery, there is a “spruceup day” whipper snipping in the Old Tremont Cemetery the third Saturday in August (after the blueberries have ripened and just before the Tremont World Fair).
The other regular ground maintenance continues to be done solely on a volunteer basis. Volunteers are always welcomed. For more information, call 902-765-2642.