Volunteers from the Rensselaer Land Trust, the Stephentown Historical Society, the Restoration of Eastern European Jewish Cemeteries, Inc., Down in Denver Books of Stephentown, neighbors, friends and community members came together on Saturday, July 17, for cemetery restoration work at the historic Stephentown Center Baptist Church Cemetery on Calvin Cole Road. The Old Baptist Cemetery is an early Stephentown cemetery with graves predating the mid-19th century.
The property is owned by Alice LeBlanc, who is undertaking responsibility to restore the cemetery to a dignified state and who has granted the Rensselaer Land Trust a conservation easement on the property.
Under the guidance and instruction of cemetery restoration specialist Joseph Ferrannini of Grave Stone Matters, tombstones were excavated, reset and cleaned by the volunteers. Earlier this year, and in 2009, local Eagle Scouts volunteered at the cemetery and cleared much of the brush, trees and debris. Their work allowed Saturday’s volunteers to focus on tombstone restoration.
A follow-up restoration workday is scheduled for Saturday, September 11. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Paul Schroeder, Volunteer Coordinator, Rensselaer Land Trust at pschroeder1@nycap.rr.com or 518-674-2480.
