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Fall 2018
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Produced by Featherstonhaugh, Wiley & Clyne, LLP
Broadcaster
George Baker, NYSAC Past President, welcomed over 140 cemeterians, supplier
members and all of their guests to the 90th Annual Fall Conference held at The
Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, New York from September 29 – October 3, 2018.
Despite the inclement weather, conference attendees enjoyed a combination of excellent
speakers, great content, fantastic amenities and wonderful company, creating a buzzing
atmosphere enjoyed by all.
This year’s conference was another one to remember with presentations from a diverse group
of the industry’s top professionals. Keynote speaker, Tanya Marsh, got things started on
Monday morning with her presentation titled, ‘Evolution of New York Cemetery Law and
Practice from the Mid-Nineteenth Century to the Mid-Twentieth Century’. A Professor of Law
at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Tanya gave an intriguing account
of how modern cemetery law has come to be, focusing specifically on New York State.
After the President’s Lunch, where all NYSAC past presidents who were in attendance were
honored, Aaron Sachs of Cornell University gave a talk titled, ‘Cemeteries in American History
– An Alternate Landscape Tradition’. After Professor Sach’s engaging presentation came ‘Your
Landscape Trees are at Risk – Signs and Symptoms that Require a Management Response’, an
informative and detailed talk by Doak Marasco, a Manager and certified Master Arborist with
continued on page 14
Another Successful Annual Fall Conference
Upcoming Events
42nd Annual Public Affairs Seminar Monday, May 6, 2019 – Tuesday, May 7, 2019 The Desmond Hotel Albany, NY
91st Annual Fall Conference
Saturday, September 14, 2019 –
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
The Thayer Hotel
West Point, NY
PLEASE NOTE: The NYSAC office has changed its address to: 111 Washington Avenue Suite 501 Albany, NY 12210
The Broadcaster
111 Washington Avenue
Suite 501
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 434-1134
(518) 427-0452 fax
www.nysac.com
Fall 20182
Fall 2018 3
A Message from the President
Philip J. Tassi NYSAC President
Domenick Castiello, Michael Austin and Steven Sloane also need to be
thanked for their support and commitment to our Association.
Our Association is fortunate to be working with Featherstonhaugh,
Wiley & Clyne, LLP for both our association management and legal
and legislative work. Calum d’Oelsnitz works tirelessly for our
organization on many items including publications, social media, web
site, annual and government and legal affairs meetings. We are very
appreciative of the hard work and dedication David Fleming continues
to exhibit in pushing for NYSAC’s priority bills including the
Definition of Cremation, Local Laws not Applying to Regulated
Cemeteries, Sales Tax Issues, and Abandonment Legislation.
Looking forward, I will be working with the Board on a strategic plan
to increase membership, increase attendance at our Government and
Legal Affairs, Fall Conference and Regional Meetings, and to identify
and guide associates with the passion to serve and help our organization
to grow. I invite and encourage anyone with suggestions on these
items or an interest in serving on a Committee to reach out to anyone
on the Board or the NYSAC offices.
Thank you again for the honor and privilege to serve this great
Association.
Sincerely,
Philip J. TassiNYSAC President
It is truly an honor to be writing this message at
the beginning of my term as President of the New
York State Association of Cemeteries. I am
fortunate to inherit the reins of this organization
on the heels of some great past presidents, officers
and board members, and recognize that I have a
tough act to follow after the work done by George
Baker, Ray Planell, Joanne Sullivan and Andrew
Nagle, all of whom I had the pleasure of serving
under while being able to witness and learn from
their leadership skills.
We owe George Baker a debt of gratitude for working diligently and
consistently on achieving the goals laid out by the Board of Directors.
His commitment to the success of the organization was fantastic as
he worked with NYSAC’s government relations team, meeting with
many lawmakers in the state to promote the legislative and regulatory
agenda which is so important to cemeteries throughout New York.
The Board of Directors consists of a number of dedicated and
knowledgeable individuals who generously volunteer their time and
I am grateful for all that they do on behalf of New York cemeteries.
While we are privileged that George Baker continues to serve, we are
also fortunate to have three former Presidents: Richard Moylan,
Richard Touchette, and Joseph Dispenza to provide historical context
and guidance as well. Eight other members: Jeffrey Reed, Nathan
Romagnola, Mitch Rose, Joseph DiTroia, Justin Locke, William Lane,
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Fall 20184
One of the first monuments a visitor is likely to notice upon coming
through Green-Wood’s landmarked brownstone Main Gates is the
Brooklyn Theatre Fire Monument. It commemorates the tragedy on
the evening of December 5, 1876, when 278 souls were lost after a
crowded theatre in downtown Brooklyn caught fire and collapsed.
That disaster is the greatest on-land loss of life in what is now New
York City up until the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The City of Brooklyn went into mourning as arrangements were
made for a mass burial at Green-Wood Cemetery in what was
designated the Brooklyn Theatre Fire Lot. It would be the final
resting place for those whose family could not afford to pay for a
burial or those whose remains had been burnt beyond recognition.
In lots scattered across the cemetery grounds, a total of 50 identified
individuals, all victims of the fire, were interred. For each of the
unidentified 103 who would be interred in the Brooklyn Theatre
Lot, no name was recorded; just this notation: “Unrecognized Body
Burned at the Brooklyn Theatre.”
In the 15 or so years of collecting photographs and other items on
behalf of The Green-Wood Historic Fund, we have purchased many
items relating to the Brooklyn Theatre Fire. So it was very intriguing
when, recently, we came across an online auction listing: “DONALD
ROSE CDV PHOTO CIRCA 1870 KILLED IN BROOKLYN
THEATER FIRE NEW YORK.”
We had never seen a photographic portrait of one of the fire’s
victims. Could this be the first? Was it real?
The back of the photograph had this penciled inscription: “Donny
Rose died in the famous fire at the Brooklyn Theater.”
Before bidding on this photograph, we wanted to confirm that “Donny
Rose” was, as stated in the listing, indeed interred at Green-Wood.
However, when we searched the cemetery’s database, using several
variations on the spelling of his name, nothing came up. We then put
Jim Lambert, volunteer extraordinaire, to work on this. Jim searched
Green-Wood’s chronological books of burials, starting with December
5, 1876, the date of the fire. No Donny Rose or Donald Rose. Now Jim
widened his search, checking the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, which had
extensive reporting on this immense tragedy. Here’s what he found:
Putting A Face On A Tragedy
The last sentence in the Eagle’s report is of particular interest: “The
remains of Donald Rose have not yet been identified.” We know what
happened to those killed in the Brooklyn Theatre Fire whose remains-
-long before DNA identification--could not be identified: they were
interred, unnamed, in the Brooklyn Theatre Fire Lot at Green-Wood.
Another note appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on the next day,
December 9, 1876. It reported on the “Three Brothers” who died in the
Brooklyn Theatre Fire. As per that report, a funeral was held for two of
the brothers--Angus and John McCullough--on December 9. We
checked Green-Wood’s records and discovered that Angus and John
were interred together on that same date in Green-Wood’s public lot
17263, grave 310. Importantly, the final line in this newspaper account
reports that their step-brother, who accompanied them to the theatre—
identified in the report as “McDonald Rose”--”has not yet been
identified.”
Carte de visite photo-graph, circa 1870. A young man, perhaps in his early teens.
This note appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of December 8, 1876, in reporting titled “The Holocaust,” then subtitled “Biographical Incidents” pertaining to the then-recent fire.
Fall 2018 5Fall 2018 5
When we went out to the grave of Angus and John, here’s what we saw:Note the inscription on this gravestone, towards the
bottom. It is a cenotaph for Donald Rose--a memorial
for their brother, who is interred elsewhere. Green-
Wood’s records for this grave list only Angus and
John as interred there. Not Donald.
All indications are that Donald Rose’s final resting
place is just a short distance away, in Green-Wood’s
Brooklyn Theatre Lot. Donald Rose went to the
Brooklyn Theatre on the evening of December 5,
died there, and his body was one of those that was so
burnt in the fire that he could not be identified.
And yes, we were able to buy the carte de visite
portrait of poor Donald Rose, a young lad, who died
with his two brothers, in what was to have been a
special evening of joy and entertainment, but turned
into a night of tragedy. Now we can see his face.
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Winter 2014 7Fall 2018 7
Suddenly, it all seemed to fall
into place. Green-Wood’s
summer interns had gained a lot
of experience cleaning and
resetting almost 200 headstones
at the Brooklyn-based cemetery. Then Green-Wood learned of a historic
cemetery on Staten Island that needed basic restoration work. Time for a road
trip.
Eight high school students participated in this unique hands-on internship in
preservation and conservation at Green-Wood. The schools selected for the
internships –Stephen Mather High School in Manhattan and the Williamsburg
High School of Architecture and Design in Brooklyn – have a specific focus on
historic preservation. Now in its second year at Green-Wood, the program is an
important partnership between Green-Wood, the New York City Department
of Education and The World Monuments Fund.
This cemetery in question was founded to serve one of the oldest continuously
inhabited free black settlements in the United States. Captain John Jackson, the
first free African American to acquire land on Staten Island, established the
community of Sandy Ground in 1828 on the island’s south shore. His purchase
came just months after the abolition of slavery in New York State. Attracted to
the safe environment for African Americans to live in and the exceptionally
rich oyster beds just off its shores, freed black men from near and far came to
Sandy Ground to work and establish their homes. As the community grew, the
Zion African Methodist Episcopal Congregation was established in 1850 and
soon established a cemetery. In a small patch of land (1.6 acres), roughly 100
tombstones can be observed today. Dates on the stones range from the late
1800s to the present and represent the memory of over forty African American
families.
Over the years, Sandy Ground has attracted the attentions of other
preservationists whose work provided support to the Green-Wood team. The
New York Landmarks Conservancy commissioned a Cultural Landscape
Report (completed by Jablonski Building Conservation) in 2015 to document
cemetery conditions and offer conservation treatment recommendations.
Further, a unique organization that celebrates and documents important
preservation projects in New York City, the New York Preservation Archives
Project (NYPAP) played a role as well. Working with the local Historical Society
and the New York Public Library, the organization captured oral histories of
the people who have lived and worked in Sandy Ground.
Guided by the five staff members of Green-Wood’s Restoration and Preservation
Department, the students approached the Sandy Ground Cemetery with
reverence. In total, the team cleaned and reset over sixty-five gravestones. The
remarkable site is considered one of the most significant African American
Burial Grounds in the United States and was named a New York City Landmark
in 1986. Green-Wood is proud of these young people, the work they completed,
and its ability to make a difference at this important landmark cemetery.
Green-Wood Interns Bring Their Skills to a Historic African-American Burial Ground
Fall 20188
It has been a very busy year for the NYSAC
Government & Legal Affairs Committee. Thank
you to all those supporting our efforts during the
legislative session and in the off months as we
continue to push our agenda and our plan for a
new start following the 2018 election season.
The 2019-20 legislative session will bring many
new changes in the legislature from leadership
down to an astonishing number of new members of both houses.
This is an excellent opportunity for NYSAC to engage and educate
these new leaders and to share the value and importance of our
service across New York.
In the upcoming session, we will continue to focus our efforts on
several pro-cemetery initiatives. We will also be advocating strongly
for a clarification that cemetery goods and services are exempt from
sales tax. This is a critical issue to protect our consumers and to
protect our cemeteries from the retroactive application of a tax that
has historically not applied to our operations. This fact is made
clearer in that every other part of the cemetery and funeral transaction
is exempt from taxes.
Two bills of significant note have passed both houses this year. Our
priority bill to prevent cemetery abandonment and protect cemetery
operations in the event of the threat of abandonment awaits delivery
to Governor Cuomo. This bill was introduced by and championed
by Senator Michael Ranzenhofer and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin
(S7835-A/A10515). The Governor has already signed Chapter 296
by Senator Betty Little and Assemblyman Billy Jones. This new law
now prohibits standalone mausoleums and columbarium outside
cemeteries across the state without contracts to place the remains in
a cemetery should the facility or grounds where these standalones
are located become abandoned.
As you can see, there is always a great deal going on and we look
forward to sharing with you our new and full priority list of
legislation in the coming months. In the meantime, if you wish to
engage directly with our legislative and regulatory efforts, please be
sure to reach out to me directly or contact the NYSAC office. The
strength of our success in Albany relates directly to your involvement.
Thank you
Chair, Government and Legal Affairs Committee
Government and Legal AffairsBy: Steven G. Sloane, Committee Chairman
Update
Fall 2018 9
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Fall 201810
May 2018
Executive Summary
IntroductionThere are any number of reasons investors may find it difficult to achieve their financial goals. In some cases, unexpected and uncontrollable events can wreak havoc on a financial plan. But it is often an investor’s own actions that lead to the failure to meet his or her objectives.
There is a branch of science called Behavioral Finance dedicated to exploring how an individual’s propensities and predilections can short circuit rational investment decisions. Unfortunately, the investment environment — including academicians, practitioners, pundits, and the financial press — may be complicit in potentially steering the investor to return-diminishing behaviors such as Market Timing and Performance Chasing.
Fortunately, awareness can be the first step toward avoiding self-defeating behaviors. This paper looks at these two, all-too-common tendencies as well as a rational approach to combat them.
Market TimingSimply put, market timing is selling stocks just before a person thinks the market will fall and, conversely, buying stocks just before one believes the market will rise. An investor seeking to time the market is trying to accomplish the dual goals of preserving capital and achieving outsized returns.
The financial press may, at times, validate market timing and may lead investors to believe that they can and should be doing it. The question frequently asked in the financial news, “Is this the time to buy (sell) stocks?” reverberates throughout the media.
For example, The Wall Street Journal cites market strategists who advocate changes to stock holdings based on predictions of how financial markets will react to geopolitical events, economic data releases, or even past movements in the markets. Additionally, investment newsletters tell subscribers when to “get in” and “get out” of stocks, bonds, and other assets. Yet, financial markets are inherently unpredictable and there is overwhelming evidence that not only does market timing not work, it also can diminish long-term returns.
Is Successful Market Timing Possible?A market timer must be clairvoyant with respect to two decisions: when to buy and when to sell. In a 1975 study, Nobel Laureate William Sharpe determined that investors had to be right on market calls 70% of the time to beat a buy-and-hold strategy. Follow-up studies put the required winning percentage even higher — difficult to do even if the individual believes that financial markets are predictable to a meaningful degree.
The cost of being wrong is significant because long-term returns have historically been driven by a relative handful of days in the market. As indicated in the Morningstar chart on the next page, “The Cost of Market Timing,” if an investor misses those days, their performance is radically altered. For instance, if someone remained invested in the S&P 500 Index for 19 years ending in 2017, their annualized return was 7.2%. Astonishingly, missing just the 10 best performance days (out of 5,217 trading days) would cause the return to fall to 3.5%, while dropping the 20 best days results in a return of only 1.2%. Finally, an investor who missed the top 50 days would have garnered a -4.5% return! This type of analysis yields strikingly similar results over many time periods.
This paper examines
two prominent,
return-diminishing
investment behaviors.
Topics Covered Include:
Market TimingLearn why investors attempt
market timing, how the
environment may encourage
it, and if it is possible to do
successfully.
Performance ChasingThe investment industry and
human nature may foster
performance chasing, and it
can put a financial advisor in
a difficult situation.
Compelling DataA mutual fund titan outlines
what happens when investors
focus on maximizing returns.
Know the CourseA key to intelligent,
long-term wealth creation.
The assertions in this white
paper are based on Fenimore
Asset Management’s opinion.
Fenimore Asset Management
is the investment advisor to
FAM Funds.
Copyright © 2018 Fenimore Asset Management, Inc.
In-depth research.
Insightful investing.
by Drew P. Wilson, CFAInvestment Research AnalystThe Value of Patience
Submitted By Bill McCartan, Director of Sales, Fenimore Asset Management
Fall 2018 11
Fall 201812
When June rolls around and
school comes to an end, parents
begin looking for summer plans
for their young ones. All the way uptown in
the Bronx, there is a new summer camp
making a name for itself. The camp is held
on a 400-acre arboretum and National
Historic Landmark. Certified teachers and
field experts lead campers on guided tours of
the grounds and in summer time activities.
While this may not sound out of the ordinary
for a summer camp, there is one thing that
makes this camp unique, it is held at The
Woodlawn Cemetery.
Jacob Alrich, Performing Arts Department
Chair/ Performing Arts Teacher at the New
Canaan Country School, is the camp’s
director. He explains how Camp Woodlawn
Woodlawn Summer Camp
came to be founded in 2015, “Camp
Woodlawn began as an outgrowth of a
literacy program known as Story Theater, in
which parallel drama and literacy curricula
reinforced each other. In its original form,
the camp was being held at a local public
school, but various twists and turns led us to
Woodlawn, which yielded an unexpected
but welcome opportunity to connect the
Story Theater program to Woodlawn’s
history and mission. After Story Theater ran
its course, the program was reborn as Camp
Woodlawn, this time with an expanded
focus on the conservancy mission while
retaining much of what made the earlier
program great: improvisation, traditional
games, and good ol’ summer fun like kickball
and water balloon fights.”
A day at Camp Woodlawn begins in
Woodlawn’s new educational classroom,
where the theme of the day is presented.
Past themes have included Irish Heritage,
Hispanic Heritage, Jazz Greats and the
Harlem Renaissance, Women of Greatness
and the list goes on. Campers are given a
mini lesson on the day’s theme where they
gain information that they will use
throughout the day’s adventure.
After the day’s mini-lesson, campers go out
on guided tours with some of Woodlawn’s
most expert staff. This past summer,
campers went on a tree tour lead by Herb
Landmann of The Davey Tree Expert.
Campers learned about 15 different species
of trees, including five of New York City’s
Great Trees. Other tours have been led by
Woodlawn’s Director of Historical Service,
Susan Olsen. One tour Olsen led this
summer was a “Symbolism in Sculpture”
tour, where she shared the meaning of
symbols found on monuments throughout
the grounds and campers learned that
everything found in Woodlawn has
importance and meaning.
It wouldn’t be summer camp without a little
fun. Campers enjoy going for rides on the
Written by Elizabeth Cooney
Coordinator of Educational Programming
WOODL AWNCEMETERY•CREMATORY•CONSERVANCY
Fall 2018 13
Woodlawn Conservancy Trolley that allowed
them to explore every corner of Woodlawn’s
expansive property. Scavenger hunts were
another group favorite. The hunts gave campers
the opportunity to use the knowledge they
gained throughout the week and use maps to
explore the grounds to find hidden clues which
led them to prizes at the end. David Ison,
Executive Director of The Woodlawn Cemetery
said “Learning at Camp Woodlawn is fun and
connects students with the past in an
unforgettable way.”
The camp, which just concluded its fourth
summer, has tripled in size since its start in July
of 2015. Mitch Rose, President & CEO of The
Woodlawn Cemetery is hoping that the
community begins to look at Woodlawn as
more than just a cemetery. He says, “We are
proud to offer the parents in
our community a place for
their children to enjoy
learning through the unique
educational strategy of Story
Theater taught by Jake. In
combination with the
additional enrichment lessons
provided by our staff summer
learning can be fun.”
Woodlawn looks forward to
continue serving students
across the Bronx through its
summer camp and other
educational programming.
Fall 201814
The Davey Tree Expert Company. Ending the afternoon’s
lineup of presentations was Jason Engler, a cremation
historian with the Cremation Association of North
America and the National Museum of Funeral History.
Jason’s presentation, titled ‘History of Cremation
Memorials’, engaged the audience as he gave an overview
of the history of cremation and then implored attendees
to consider how deathcare is changing as a result of
increased rates of cremation.
Tuesday marked a return to action with Gino Merendino
moderating a first-ever ‘Ask the Superintendent Panel’
consisting of Domenick Castiello of Mount Hope
Cemetery Association, Lou Wasnick of Forest Lawn
Corporation, and Joe Charap of Green-Wood Cemetery.
Attendees enjoyed a well-constructed series of questions
and the discussion that ensued on topics ranging from
client interactions to burial risk management. Following
the panel, NYSAC legislative counsel, David Fleming, Jr.,
and New York State Association of Towns counsel, Lori
Mithen-DeMasi, took the stage for a discussion titled
‘Preventing the Rise of Cemetery Abandonment’. Next
up was the New York State Division of Cemeteries
Report which featured an important update from the
state regulators. Capping off the day’s presentations was
the always engaging Government and Legal Affairs
Update, delivered by David Fleming and Steven Sloane,
NYSAC’s Government and Legal Affairs Committee
Chair. David and Steven updated membership on the
legislative and regulatory affairs concerning New York
cemeteries, asking all interested to become involved in
these important efforts.
Supplier members were present throughout the
conference in a large room which was used for various
meal functions and cocktail hours, allowing for great
interaction and networking opportunities. The Annual
Banquet on Tuesday evening was enjoyed by all as
delicious food and drink were shared amongst attendees
before the swearing in of officers and directors was
conducted by NYSAC past president, Andrew Nagle. A
heartwarming speech was given by outgoing President,
George Baker, before Philip Tassi was sworn in as
NYSAC’s new President.
The Association thanks all of those members and
speakers who attended the 90th Annual Fall Conference
and encourages all members to attend next year’s
conference at The Thayer in West Point, New York from
September 14, 2019 to September 17, 2019!
Annual Fall Conferencecontinued from page 1
Fall 2018 15
Fall 201816
Setting the Stage ... In a Cemetery
Historic cemeteries like Green-Wood have staged grand
and elaborate funerals. And now, they are the ideal venue
for music lovers.
Beginning in June 2018, Green-Wood partnered with Unison
Media to co-present The Angel’s Share, a classical music concert
series in the cemetery’s famed Catacombs. (The term is taken from
the distiller’s term for the fraction of spirits that evaporates or is
“given to the angels” when they’re being made.) Normally closed to
the public, this structure which dates back to the 1850s, is located in
the center of Green-Wood’s sprawling 478 acres. The Catacombs,
with its long central corridor (nearly 160 feet in length) flanked by
thirty family vaults, was an ideal choice for those who wanted to be
buried indoors, but couldn’t afford a grand mausoleum of their
own.
Each evening of The Angel’s Share begins with a pre-concert
reception at sunset overlooking New York Harbor and the
Manhattan skyline.
The series debuted to sold-out crowds with the highly anticipated
world premiere of The Rose Elf, a new opera composed by David
Hertzberg. Just last year, Hertzberg’s work, The Wake World was
named “Best New Opera Award by the Music Critics Association of
North America. Starring award-winning mezzo-soprano Samantha
Hankey, The Rose Elf reprises the 1839 Hans Christian Andersen.
The opera was previewed in a full page article in The New York
Times, with adulations quickly following on local NPR radio
stations, WNYC and WQXR, Time Out New York, The Observer,
NY1, and NBC New York, among others.
“The atmosphere is definitely intense and charged, but not creepy
in a 1950s horror-schlock way. I think it serves as a powerful
reminder of our mortality as well as the importance of appreciating
the beauty of life’s shared moments,” says Andrew Ousley, President
of Unison Media and curator of The Angel’s Share. “I choose artists
and ensembles who intuitively understand the kind of focused,
transcendent musical experience we’re trying to create.”
Other concerts in the series include harpist Bridget Kibbey, piano
playing twin sisters Christine and Michele Naughton, The JACK
Quartet, and the premiere of the opera Sketches from Frankenstein
by Gregg Kallor.
But, as Green-Wood’s Manager of Programs Harry Weil explains,
“The main star of the show is always Green-Wood.”
Photos credit: David Allee
Fall 2018 17
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Fall 201818
Fall 2018 19
As the seasons change, it’s important to consider the changes that
need to be made to accommodate your cemetery landscape. Winter
can be a particularly tricky season to prepare for, as it brings different
challenges and often some of the harshest conditions. While the
cold-weather months might not be top-of-mind just yet, it’s time to
start thinking about winterizing your grounds, and here are a few
things to keep in mind.
TREES:
It’s important for trees
to get a pre-winter
evaluation. This will
ensure any potential
tree defects are brought
to your attention and
can be taken care of
before the ice and snow
cause any structural
damage. Your local
arborist can identify the
trees that are high
priority and need to be
taken care of pre-winter and what can wait until spring or summer
if budget and time are running low toward the end of the year.
SHRUBS:
Any of your late-flowering
shrubs will need some
extra attention this time of
year. Pruning away any
remaining dead flower
buds will help the plant to
have a healthy blossom
next year. If they are
getting a bit overgrown,
thinning them out can go
a long way and contributes
to healthy growth after the
harsh winter months. An arborist can put together an optimal
pruning plan for the shrubbery throughout your grounds.
TURF:
The number one way to
prepare your cemetery’s
turf for winter is to mark
your roadways. Because of
plowing, turf often gets
torn up during the winter
months, but that can easily
be avoided. Take some
time this fall to clearly
mark the roadways for
your plows and your turf
will thank you when
spring rolls around.
While these are important steps to winterize your grounds, there is
one more tip that should rank at the very top of your pre-winter
checklist. Hydration! Just like people, trees and other plants need
water even when it’s cold outside. Lack of moisture is one of the
most injurious things, so it’s important to keep a close eye
throughout the year. A good rule of thumb is to give your trees and
plants a really good soaking right before Thanksgiving to set them
up for the winter. If the season brings unusually low precipitation
and the ground isn’t frozen, it is certainly a good idea to give your
landscape some extra water.
No matter the climate, it is always important to prep your cemetery
grounds for winter. For a more tailored plan to winterize your
grounds, contact your local arborist and he or she will set you up
with a plan to keep your landscape healthy and strong throughout
the colder months.
Doak Marasco specializes in caring for cemeteries and has over 15
years of experience. To ask him your tree care questions, contact him
at 508-250-2181 or [email protected].
Winterizing Cemetery Trees
and LandscapeBy Brian Borkowicz, The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Fall 201820
New York’s Cemetery AdvisorsFrom project consultation and government
applications to legal review and crisis management
111 Washington Avenue, Suite 501, Albany, New York 518-436-0786 Fax 518-427-0452 www.fwc-law.com
Fall 2018 21
ANNA HUBBEL, Editor
Webster Herald | Webster, New York |
September 26, 2018
I had the pleasure of getting to know some esteemed Webster names during the Webster Museum’s tour at Union Cemetery this past Saturday. The tour was great fun, with museum volunteers dressed up to portray Webster’s earliest ancestors. The actors were really invested in their roles, giving visitors a glimpse of Webster history.
In addition to getting to know some big Webster roots, I also got to learn about Webster Union Cemetery. So in this week’s column, I want to share with you what I learned about Webster’s history, both the people and the place where they are now buried, from this wonderful community event.
Webster Union Cemetery When I first arrived, I had the pleasure of speaking with George Baker, president of Webster Union Cemetery, and the one who asked the museum to do the tour after a similar event was held last year at Webster Rural Cemetery. He talked about Union Cemetery with great enthusiasm and dedication.
The cemetery has one simple record retention method, Baker told me: “We throw away nothing.” It turns out that running a cemetery involves a lot of checks and balances to ensure everything is done legally and that no plot is accidentally sold when it’s already occupied or owned.
“It can get complicated very fast,” said Baker.
One interesting fact I never knew before is that headstones are the family’s responsibility; if anything happens to a stone, it’s covered by the family’s homeowners insurance. However, the family does not own the land where their loved one is buried. They simply retain the right of burial.
In addition to blowing my mind with interesting tidbits about cemetery management, Baker told me about the prominent Webster names throughout the Union Cemetery. The Woodhulls, Fosters, Fullers, and Curtices are just a few of the prominent family names located there. There are also Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans buried at Union. The mother of the infamous Don Holleder is buried there as well.
Baker told me that people have come from as far as the state of Washington to locate relatives at Union Cemetery.
“There’s a lot of stories here,” said Baker. “There’s some good stories, there are some sad stories, and there are some good family stories.”
It’s been his pleasure to help preserve history, Baker told me. He’s frequently cleaning stones and helping the other cemetery workers maintain the property. Baker also told me about the cemetery’s goal to dig out old stones that have fallen over and are at risk of being buried.
In 2008, the Landmark Society gave Union Cemetery an Historic Landscape award for how well the cemetery is preserved.
“There’s always something to do,” said Baker. Cleaning headstones, for instance, is a frequent practice, which is done on a volunteer basis. The cemetery has to look out for vandals as well. Back in 2000, vandals caused $15,000 in damage, said Baker. While the cemetery got the money back, Baker said it took a lot of work.
People often come to the cemetery for reasons you wouldn’t expect, Baker told me. He said he’s learned about people trying to sell drugs, sleeping in their car, “having affairs,” and even learning to drive or ride a bike. One older woman, he said, walked around the cemetery to get used to her walker.
“You never know what somebody’s going to do,” said Baker.
There is also much wildlife that goes on at Union. Baker said there are hawk nests, bluebirds, a fox, deer, and turkeys. Mother deer often have their fawns nestle up against gravestones to help them stay warm, because the stones absorb heat.
“There’s so much beauty to find,” said Baker.
You could say life in a gamut of stages happens at Union Cemetery.
Then there are the administrative details that come with working at a cemetery, like legal matters, state regulations, and insurance. Insurance came in handy after last year’s windstorm, which brought $47,000 in damage to the main building, said Baker.
Let’s not forget the most important purpose of the cemetery: helping families during their time of grief. “That’s what this is all about,” said Baker. “Making [it] as easy as you can for them
Webster People of the Past at Webster Union Cemetery
Union Cemetery President George Baker and Webster Museum Board President Tom Pellett, who is portraying his great-great-great grandfather John Fielding Whiting. Photo: Anna Hubbel
during what is probably the most difficult time in their life.”
Sadly, Baker said many Webster residents do not realize that Union Cemetery exists. When they hear “Webster cemetery,” they think of Webster Rural Cemetery in the heart of the village. But the museum’s tour has helped draw attention and foot traffic, which had Baker beaming by the time I left that day.
Baker said he told the museum to keep all the donations collected from the tour. He said it was enough just to have people come and see the Webster history that lives on at Union Cemetery.
Webster Union Cemetery is located at 345 Webster Road. I encourage you to stop by and visit it sometime.
Now I’d like to share with you a little about the people I met as I traveled back in time through Webster history.
Mark Curtice The first tour stop was presented by Mark Curtice; aka, museum volunteer Peter Elder. Mark originally came to Webster when he was
a teenager. He died in 1880. In a paragraph he wrote about himself, featured in Esther Dunn’s book, Webster Through the Years, Mark talks about how difficult life was back in those days. He remembered living on just pickles and mashed potatoes for days until they could find even a little bit of pork to eat. His wife was allegedly one of the first women of European descent to be born in Webster. Mark was a farmer all his life and was a deacon at Webster Baptist Church. He had five children, three of whom formed the Curtice Brothers corporation in Rochester, which lasted about a century.
continued on page 22
Fall 201822
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Abram and Patience Foster Patience (portrayed by volunteer Winanne Messing) was originally a Woodhull before she married Abram Foster (portrayed by volunteer Sharon Galbraith). The Fosters settled in Webster in 1806; however, at the time, it was North Penfield - not yet Webster. The Fosters are considered the first Webster settlers because although they weren’t the first people to go there, they were among the first to stay. Abram died in 1859 and Patience died in 1844.
Minerva Strowger and May Strowger Wright Minerva Strowger (portrayed by volunteer Gwen Hoffman) was the granddaughter of Abram Foster. She lived in Webster from 1830 to 1904 and was married to Charles Strowger. They had two children; Johnney, who died at the young age of 14, and May. Minerva and May ran a boarding house on Lake Road. May (portrayed by volunteer Diana Strassman) eventually inherited land from her mother, which she used to found a hotel/restaurant later known as Hedges Nine Mile Point. Minerva left an endowment for the beautification of Union Cemetery, which helped with the care of a number of graves.
John Fielding Whiting Portrayed by Webster Museum Board President Tom Pellett, his great-greatgreat grandson, John Fielding Whiting talked about how he was one of Union Cemetery’s first trustees. In 1811, John built a lakeside log cabin near what we now know to be Holt Road. He later built a lake house, now known as White House Lodge, after his father-in-law gave him land. John died in 1861.
Switching back to himself, Pellett shared that 19 Civil War veterans are buried at Union Cemetery. When he was young, Pellett said he “didn’t care for cemeteries.” But after two to three years of doing research for the museum, he now gets excited when he drives by a cemetery.
Jennie Strowger Woodhull Jennie Strowger Woodhull (portrayed by volunteer Deb Oakley) lived from 1844 to 1921, and was married to William Woodhull. Jennie shared with visitors
things she wrote in her diary, such as how both she and her husband were busy bees. While William was out selling potatoes, she’d be dressing turkeys. At the end of the day, she would be exhausted from working so hard; she also knitted, did the laundry, cooking, ironing, and other housewife responsibilities back in the day. There were times when she would get so sick that she would need to pay people to help her fulfill her duties.
Charles and Sabrina Wright Charles Wright (portrayed by volunteer Andy Naujokas) lived from 1821 to 1907, and his wife Sabrina (portrayed by volunteer Jan Naujokas) lived from 1821 to 1906. While Sabrina was born in Webster, Charles was born in New Hampshire. The two married in Webster in 1848. Sabrina’s parents had lived on Phillips Road and deeded 40 acres to their daughter in 1849. A brick home with a barn and chicken coup was built at 394 Phillips Road around 1850-56. Charles was Town Supervisor for six years. He was also in the New York House of Representatives and raised bonds for the railroad.
Helen Tompkins Helen Tompkins (portrayed by volunteer Lisa McNamara) died in 1988. She was related to the Fosters. Her family came to Webster in 1850. She eventually built and ran the store Tompkins Red and White, which is now the Country Store on Lake Road. She is responsible for introducing gasoline pumps at a convenience store to the Lake Road community.
Thank you to George Baker and all the Webster Museum volunteers who worked so hard to make this such a great event for the community. Special thanks to the museum’s Sharon Pratt, who invited me to the tour and educated me a little on the traditional mourning garb worn back in the day.
As a journalist, the tour at Webster Union Cemetery was very beneficial to me. It’s helpful to know Webster’s foundational roots because it allows me to fully appreciate the community for which I write. It gives more substance to
my mission of getting to know you.
Webster People continued
Fall 2018 23
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Fall 201824
What information is there yet to uncover about “The Seneca Union Cemetery”? (SUCA) I have many memories of visits to the cemetery especially as a teenager,
our Church choir on Memorial Day held a service at the site of the
cannons situated on the side hill under a canopy of beautiful maple
and evergreen trees. Just recently a family member noted the Cannons
were actually “Parrott guns” from the Civil War.
How did they get there and who gave them to the cemetery?So let’s return to the 1800’s and share the story of Daniel B. Smith.
Daniel and his wife Eleanor Lamoreaux were married in 1815 in New
York. Together they had 12 children and it is written in family records
from the reunion of 1896 that they likely commenced housekeeping
in a building on the lake side of Route 414 just North of Valois (it has
been used as a fruit packing barn for years and remains standing). In
1820 they built a home across the road that was used as a tavern and
stage coach stop. The cemetery (SUCA) property was purchased from
Daniel and the home remains to the north of the cemetery to this day.
The cemetery property has remained in the ownership of Daniel’s
family and currently his great –great-great granddaughter Sally Jo
Smith owns and occupies the residence.
The tavern was a meeting place for an organized GAR Post #423.
Daniel B was not a Civil War veteran but following the Civil War,
he invited local men so qualified, to gather at his tavern and
formally organized this post. Through the years the group held
many reunions, attended conventions of the Civil War veterans
and they sponsored many public events .They even had a cornet
band that gave concerts at many public events. Eventually their
numbers grew smaller due to death but they voted to preserve a
plot in a portion of the cemetery (purchased for $1.00) as a
military plot.
Hence, the acquisition of the two Parrot guns along with 10 inch
shells, shipped from the New York Arsenal on May 29, 1897, then
mounted in the cemetery in 1898. Please note the pile of cannon
balls there do not fit the guns. One corner of the plot bears a
marker stating that “This plot is dedicated to the burial of indigent
soldiers and sailors”. A bronze plaque lists the commander’s
names and their company and regiment numbers. There are many
monuments in the cemetery
dedicated to the memory of its
buried veterans. Daniel’s son
Seleh fought in the civil war
died in Andersonville prison
and is buried there. Daniel and
Eleanor are buried at SUCA,
their son Seleh has a memorial
stone there.
About the Parrott guns –used in
the civil war: they were made in
1882 and 1884 at the West Point
Foundry, each weigh 4500
pounds, have serial numbers
and have been on the National
Registry since 1989. From
information from the registry it
was most surprising to find their
value at $40,000 each.
By Susan C Rocholl – President
The Cannons of Seneca Union Cemetery
Fall 2018 25
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Fall 201826
Fall 2018 27
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