Some teenagers in Schuylkill County are doing their part to save a piece of their community's history by preserving a 122-year-old grave.
Members of the Junior Elk Club, called the Antlers, rolled up their sleeves and got to work Wednesday evening. Their goal is to preserve the tombstone of a three-year-old boy who died in 1887.
Time, neglect, and mother nature have led to the deteriorating conditions of a tombstone at a cemetery in Ashland, but this is no ordinary grave. This is a part of Ashland folklore which tells the story of the tragic death of a three-year-old boy more than 100 years ago.
"According to legend, John Davis died in 1887. The story was told (that) as a young guy, he was playing in a tree in his yard and fell out of the tree and died. That's why his mother picked a tree tombstone for him," said Mayor Dennis Kayne of Ashland.
Now the mayor and members of the Antlers club are taking steps to preserve the tombstone. The first step: a good scrub cleaning to remove dirt and moss. The next step: protecting it from the elements.
"We're going to come up with a sealer, like a clear coat to seal it. And that should prevent the acid rain from affecting it for 50, 60 years," added Mayor Kayne.
There are features on the tombstone that let visitors know it is the grave of a little boy, like a straw hat a child would have worn in the 1800's, and little boots as well. However due to erosion, those features are fading and this project hopes to stop further damage from happening.
The teenagers involved said it's not only a way to help pass on their community's history, but to be a part of it as well.
"It's a story to tell your kids. I mean, you're coming out here and doing this and you can bring them out here and show them what you did when you were a kid," said Kendra Rockwell.
"It would be great to come back here and get to see it, and you know you worked on it and you helped make it look like that, and you can see the letters and the hat and the boots," said Rachael Metzinger.
The mayor said if the weather cooperates, they hope to have the sealant on by Friday so the finished tombstone can be on display for Memorial Day.
Members of the Junior Elk Club, called the Antlers, rolled up their sleeves and got to work Wednesday evening. Their goal is to preserve the tombstone of a three-year-old boy who died in 1887.
Time, neglect, and mother nature have led to the deteriorating conditions of a tombstone at a cemetery in Ashland, but this is no ordinary grave. This is a part of Ashland folklore which tells the story of the tragic death of a three-year-old boy more than 100 years ago.
"According to legend, John Davis died in 1887. The story was told (that) as a young guy, he was playing in a tree in his yard and fell out of the tree and died. That's why his mother picked a tree tombstone for him," said Mayor Dennis Kayne of Ashland.
Now the mayor and members of the Antlers club are taking steps to preserve the tombstone. The first step: a good scrub cleaning to remove dirt and moss. The next step: protecting it from the elements.
"We're going to come up with a sealer, like a clear coat to seal it. And that should prevent the acid rain from affecting it for 50, 60 years," added Mayor Kayne.
There are features on the tombstone that let visitors know it is the grave of a little boy, like a straw hat a child would have worn in the 1800's, and little boots as well. However due to erosion, those features are fading and this project hopes to stop further damage from happening.
The teenagers involved said it's not only a way to help pass on their community's history, but to be a part of it as well.
"It's a story to tell your kids. I mean, you're coming out here and doing this and you can bring them out here and show them what you did when you were a kid," said Kendra Rockwell.
"It would be great to come back here and get to see it, and you know you worked on it and you helped make it look like that, and you can see the letters and the hat and the boots," said Rachael Metzinger.
The mayor said if the weather cooperates, they hope to have the sealant on by Friday so the finished tombstone can be on display for Memorial Day.
