A group called Friends of Milford Cemetery is forming to protect and preserve the historical stones in the Milford Cemetery.
“With the help of Ray Scholl and the encouragement of the Milford Cemetery Association, we hope to undertake several projects,” said resident Ardienne Damicis.
“The first is to raise funds to place Plexiglas plaques with information about several stones that are missing, broken or unreadable due to weathering. These include the stones of Molly Fowler, John and Hannah Downs and several members of the Fenn family who served in the Revolutionary War.”
The unreadable Fenn stones are made of sandstone which is easily destroyed by weathering.
The group’s second goal will be to have a qualified instructor show interested people how to clean and repair stones.
“Then those people will be able to help with preserving the stones and instructing other groups, including Scouts, to help with this project,” Damicis said.
The group is starting fund raising efforts. People can make tax deductible donations to the Milford Cemetery Association, PO Box 227, Milford, CT 06460 putting “Friends of Milford Cemetery” in the memo.
People can join Friends of Milford Cemetery, with dues of $15 a year. The group will continue to be a part of the Milford Cemetery Association.
People may join by sending their name, address and phone number with a check made out to the Milford Cemetery Association. Put “Membership, Friends” in the memo.
Scholl is ordering tee shirts which will feature the Molly Fowler stone on the back.
The organizing members are Ton Beirne, Ardienne Damicis, Lloyd Jacobs, Dick Platt, Jim SantaBarbara and Steve Rogers with Ray Scholl as advisor.
For more information contact Ardienne Damicis at 203-877-1851 or Ray Scholl at 203-874-8998.