Marilyn, I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There is a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that some of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would like to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. Does any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating to its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? The California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and may be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of time. I now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much help. I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers was particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. I was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list of names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of my Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced them. Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my Solomon Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is now gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation that later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was preacher in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were relocated to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off from the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's ridge according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where that is or if there are any tombstones there. There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They were the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle Vernon, the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery at about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill and Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will Baptist Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. Tom Speers Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears ---------- > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > Mike, > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who were > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x g,grandparents > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents James > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in the > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there appears > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not > been able to find the cemetery. > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that cemetery > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena married > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > **************************8 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > : Mike > : > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > : > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > : > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > : > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > : chipped > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > : > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > : officials > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > : unknown. > : > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing > : her > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year > : while > : researching her roots. > : > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > : unearthed > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about > : plans > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of > : the > : school founder. > : > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they > : want to > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > : > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do something > : with > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > : > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris said. > : > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth > : Graf, > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > : > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery > : at the > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > : Johnson, > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use > : the > : stone for a small park on campus. > : > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with 196 > : > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > : residents, > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about the > : > : university's project, Graf said. > : > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, and > : the > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > : > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the > : stones > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > : > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. > : The > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > : removal or > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial > : place. > : > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in > : their > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > : buried, > : Graf said. > : > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one > : knows > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > : > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns the > : > : land," she said. > : > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something > : with > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised > : about > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > : grant. > : > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > : Civil > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > : site, > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > : > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two > : long > : walls veneered with the original stones. > : > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said.

Good afternoon Tom... I am researching several surnames (CHALFANT, COPENHAVER, CARSON) and a reference came up referring to the Speers Plan. Do you know where the boundaries of the Speers Plan would be c.1895? Also any information or maps of Duvlevy before 1913. I also attended the last California Area Historical Society meeting concerning the "Old California Cemetery" restoration program. It is being very well planned and organized. Will scan the last CAHS newsletter and forward. Better yet I'll post on the internet with a private URL. Donations can be sent to: California Area Historical Society P.O. Box 624 California PA 15419-0624 Make checks payable to: "The California Area Historical Society" Memo: to Sponsorship of Old California Cemetery Preservation Project. Dave Copenhaver Monongahela PA dlcope@sgi.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Speers" <speers@cetlink.net> To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:03 AM Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > Marilyn, > I came across this desecration last fall and made some inquiries. There is > a list of names someone has compiled for this cemetery. I believe that some > of my Johnson and Ward families are buried in this cemetery. I would like > to see the cemetery rebuilt as someone has already mentioned. I would be > more angry against this community except it will do no good. So if > donations are being taken up for the restoration project, count me in. Does > any one have any pictures of this cemetery or any news articles relating to > its destruction 50 years ago. Perhaps some digging will turn up some > article. Are there any old residents who remember any thing about it? The > California University there has microfilms of the area newspapers and may > be able to help us. Perhaps they have already done the research and may > have pictures and other articles which would save everyone a lot of time. I > now live down south and rarely make it back to PA and won't be much help. > > I have similar misgivings about the Speers cemetery in Speers, PA. > Especially since my uncle who died in the 50's was the one who sold the > property on which several buildings now rest. My cousin Elaine Speers was > particularly peeved at him. The tombstones now are part of a foundation. I > was told by one of the residents on Philips Street that this Speers > cemetery was at the corner of Philips Street and State Street as it goes > down the hill. The cemetery occupied at least the north west corner of > these two streets. Does anyone have pictures of this cemetery and a list of > names of who was buried there? It was run down in the 1940's when one of my > Speer historians visited there. One of my Fry/Frye/Frey historians had a > few pictures of some tombstones taken back then but he has misplaced them. > Many of those who are buried there should have been members of the Enon > Baptist Church which was first a log cabin in the 1790's at a spot about > below the I-70 bridge is now. Later Solomon Speers (one of 9 of my Solomon > Speers) built a red brick church on the hill near the cemetery. It is now > gone. It was referred to also as the Maple Creek Baptist congregation that > later was located elsewhere. My 4th gf Reverend Henry Speers was preacher > in Speers from 1794 until 1840. He and his wife's tombstone were relocated > to Howe cemetery to his daughter Pleasant Speers Ward plot. Elder Henry > help start the Washington County Baptist Association when it split off from > the Redstone Baptist Association of churches about 1827. There is a > Revolution War plaque attached to his tombstone. > > There is shown on an early map a Redd family cemetery out along Maple > Creek. Also the Baptist church was relocated to a site along Carson's ridge > according to some documentation that I have seen. I do not know where that > is or if there are any tombstones there. > > There are probably numerous small cemeteries around that also have been > abandoned and destroyed. There are at least 3 older cemeteries in Belle > Vernon that are now gone. These are mentioned in John Stogdall Van > Voorhis's book "The Old and New Monongahela" published in 1893. They were > the Gould Hill Cemetery in the Seldom Seen (Southern) part of Belle Vernon, > the Free Will Baptist Church cemetery started about 1835 in which Mrs. > William Hutchison was the first buried there, and the oldest a cemetery at > about the corner of Grant and Henry Street. I looked for the Gould Hill and > Free Will Baptist Church cemeteries several years ago and found nothing. > There is only an unmarked Gould Alley that I found. The Free Will Baptist > Church was originally at the corner of Market Street and Flint Alley I > believe. If anyone has info on these cemeteries, please let us know. > > Tom Speers > Researching german line of Speer/Spears/Speers/Spear > Germany>PA>VA>MD>PA and KY>etc. > descendents of Michael Christopher Spears and > his brother (Peter) Henry Speer/Spears > > ---------- > > From: Marilyn Prinzing <marjenp@primenet.com> > > To: PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [PAMONVAL] Old California Cemetery restoration article > > Date: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:41 PM > > > > Mike, > > > > Do you know if there was a record kept of the names of the people who > were > > in that cemetery? We have never found the graves of my 3 x > g,grandparents > > John Wilson and Jane Bedall (Beadle); nor, the graves of her parents > James > > Bedall/Beadle and Elizabeth Moller. John Wilson most likely was born in > the > > 1770s in York Co. We believe that he died between 1848 and 1850. > > > > The Bedall/Beadle and Wilson families lived in the Maple Creek area of > > Fallowfield Twp., Washington Co. From an old map of the area there > appears > > to be a cemetery directly north of John Wilson's property. We have not > > been able to find the cemetery. > > > > Also, wonder if there were any members of the Howe family in that > cemetery > > especially the William Howe of California, PA whose daughter Philena > married > > a Latta of Roscoe and daughter, Dorcas married a Qualk. > > > > Marilyn, Lake Co., IL > > **************************8 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Mike Donaldson" <mdonald4@bentcom.net> > > To: <PAMONVAL-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > : This appeared in the paper today. Kind of makes we think about what I > > : (We) could do to help out. Anyone have any ideas? > > : Mike > > : > > : 3/19/01[Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"] > > : > > : Historians trying to right an old wrong > > : > > : BY SCOTT BEVERIDGE > > : THE OBSERVER-REPORTER > > : > > : CALIFORNIA - The tombstones at an historic California cemetery lay > > : chipped > > : and broken in three piles, overrun with weeds. > > : > > : But it wasn't vandals who toppled the gravestones. It was borough > > : officials > > : who decided to plow down the grave markers 50 years ago for reasons > > : unknown. > > : > > : "I was furious," said Patricia Sample Ewing of Norfolk, Va., describing > > : her > > : reaction to the condition of the graveyard, which she visited last year > > : while > > : researching her roots. > > : > > : She had heard the unusual story about the stones and how they were > > : unearthed > > : in an archaeology dig six years ago. And she was happy to learn about > > : plans > > : to partially restore Union Cemetery that drew little attention until > > : California University of Pennsylvania went looking for the tombstone of > > : the > > : school founder. > > : > > : Historians are planning a $75,000 memorial for the cemetery, and they > > : want to > > : build it with the burial ground's damaged grave markers. > > : > > : "Now that they are uncovered, I feel, personally, we should do > something > > : with > > : them," said Art Harris, a borough councilman. > > : > > : "Some people think we should push them back over the hill," Harris > said. > > : > > : "To watch them bury them again, it would be terrible," said Mary Beth > > : Graf, > > : spokeswoman for the California Area Historical Society. > > : > > : Cal U. President Angelo Armenti Jr. authorized the dig at the cemetery > > : at the > > : north entrance to town. He wanted to retrieve the headstone for Job > > : Johnson, > > : who was among those who founded the university 149 years ago, and use > > : the > > : stone for a small park on campus. > > : > > : A graduate student who led the dig found Johnson's stone, along with > 196 > > : > > : others, but the historical society objected to Armenti's plan to take > > : possession of the grave marker. Members of the society, as well as > > : residents, > > : expressed an interest in restoring the cemetery after learning about > the > > : > > : university's project, Graf said. > > : > > : So Armenti had a replica made of Johnson's gravestone cast in resin, > and > > : the > > : fake was attached to the rear of Old Main as a tribute to Johnson. > > : > > : Since that time, locals have pondered ideas about what to do with the > > : stones > > : since throwing them back into the ravine would be illegal. > > : > > : State law now prohibits municipalities from condemning old cemeteries. > > : The > > : Historic Burial Places Preservation Act of 1994 also prohibits the > > : removal or > > : destruction of gravestones or their fragments within a historic burial > > : place. > > : > > : However, it would be impossible to put the California markers back in > > : their > > : original positions because no one knows exactly where the bodies are > > : buried, > > : Graf said. > > : > > : "There is no way to construct the original layout," Graf said. No one > > : knows > > : who owns the cemetery either, she said. > > : > > : "A lot of cemeteries had record-keepers. We don't even know who owns > the > > : > > : land," she said. > > : > > : Harris approached council about a year ago with a plan to do something > > : with > > : the stones. Since that time, he and the historical society have raised > > : about > > : $7,000 toward the project. The society also has applied for a state > > : grant. > > : > > : Local veterans organizations also have lent their support because 25 > > : Civil > > : War soldiers and three others from the War of 1812 are buried at the > > : site, > > : Graf said. She said burials date to 1760. > > : > > : Plans call for the development of a memorial with pathways in the least > > : occupied section of the cemetery. The sidewalk would be flanked by two > > : long > > : walls veneered with the original stones. > > : > > : "We want to make it so people can enjoy it," Harris said. >

Does anyone know of any existing photographs of the old 8th Street elementary school in Charleroi? It resembled a castle with a moat around it. So far I've been unable to locate any photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Bill Dukstein