Pioneer Cemetery in Cloyne

This project is headed up by Mary Kelly and it is one that is close to her heart – and her house! Each Spring and Fall, we have volunteers come to clean out the area and make it ready for the many visitors who drop by each year. Mary takes care of the property throughout the year, making sure the beds and watered and the grass cut. Mary’s husband, Jack, always provides a delicious lunch on clean-up days!

Cleanup Days!

On October 13th, a bunch of us got together to clean up the Cloyne Pioneer Cemetery. There were lots of leaves and pine needles to be raked up, but we knuckled down and got it done.  Thanks to all who helped rake, prune and clean up the bank – the area is in great shape and we’ll do some weeding and hopefully mulching in the Spring.

More Clean-up!

A group of our wonderful volunteers came out to help cleanup the cemetery. They laid a load of gravel on the pathways, raked leaves and pine needles and cut back a whole lot of perennials. As you can see, they had a pretty good time as well!

Here’s how the area looks in the Spring

History of this Project

The reclamation of the Pioneer Cemetery was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by our Garden Club.  Thanks to the Township of North Frontenac for supporting us and obtaining a grant so that we could undertake this project.

We had many volunteers, community groups and neighbours that helped with this project which took weeks to complete.  We laid down pathways, a rock garden on the bank to the road, various beds, and a lawn area. There were remains of Celtic crosses that had marked some of the graves on the site and we had replicas made of these, painted them white and placed them throughout the cemetery.  We donated the originals to the Museum. We added two benches to allow those who visit to sit and reflect in an area that is both spiritual and beautiful.

Mary thanks you all from the bottom of her heart for helping her each Spring and Fall, not only paying tribute to our Pioneers, but also to those volunteers who have worked there and passed away… Nell McFadden, Ursula Ossenburgh, Nellie Hobbs, Marion Proctor, Martine Buissart, Georgina Hughes, Nancy Davis-Mayer and Helen Welburn.