Minutes of the Friends of the Geer Cemetery 03/14/2005

In attendance were: Mr. R.K. Bryant (Chair), Mrs. Carrie Mc Nair (Research Chair), Mr. Allen Dew (Listserve, and Web Page Administrator), Mr. Frank Hyman (Former City Councilman), John L Bright (Administrator, Durham City Cemetery Division ), Mr. Steve Hill (TROSA-Landscaping Division ), Mr. Dennis Kerr (TROSA- Landscaping Divsion), Mrs. Chantae Bohannon-Mangum ( Research committee member, and cemetery stakeholder).

5:00pm This March meeting in the Auditorium at the Durham County Library was called to order by Chairman Bryant.

The minutes of the February 14, 2005 meeting were read by Chairman Bryant, and he welcomed Mr. John L Bright ( Administrator, Durham City Cemetery Division who will takeover for Mr. Jay Reinstein) and TROSA Landscaping division employees’ Mr. Dennis Kerr, and Mr. Steve Hill .

Discussion of Ownership:
Chairman Bryant discussed ownership of the cemetery and stating that he has read the minutes of the city council minutes from the 1800’s to establish ownership of the cemetery and states that the Durham needs to take ownership of the cemetery.

Contract with TROSA:
Mr. Bryant referred to the last meeting minutes to discus the contract with TROSA stating that Mr. Reinstein (Assistant City Manager ) stated that Durham would extend the contract to receive the additional cleanups per contract agreement. Mr. Dennis Kerr stated that all cleanups had been completed and the last of the clean ups were in progress. Mrs. McNair stated and reading from minutes of 02/14/2005 that the committee was told that TROSA owes the cemetery 3 cleanups. Mr. Kerr stated that the initial major clean up began in June of last year. A quarterly clean up was completed in October 2004, January 2005, and the last clean up is in progress (March 2005). Mrs. McNair reading from the minutes 02/14/2005 stated that the contract was suppose to run from June to June. Mr. John L Bright, Administrator, Durham City Cemetery Division, who had an actual copy of the contract with TROSA stated that the contract ran from March 23, 2004 - March 23, 2005. Mr. Bright also stated, that the contract does not specify the number of clean ups that the cemetery is due. Mr. Bright will look into the extension of the contract that was previously mentioned in the last meeting by Mr. Reinstein.

Continuation of Clean up/Maintenance of the Cemetery:
Chairman Bryant asked Mr. Bright about assisting the committee with a budget for the cemetery cleanup. Stating that $850.00 for each quarterly maintenance cleanup would be $3,400.00 annual. Chairman Bryant also asked TROSA representatives if they would be interested in continuing the clean up if funding were available, TROSA responded by saying yes they would be interested in continuing the clean up. Mrs. McNair mentioned the leaves and vines and asked Mr. Hill what could you do to rid the cemetery of the leaves and vines, as it is difficult to walk in the cemetery. Mr. Hill mentioned Bush Killer to kill leaf growth, herbicide, roundup, and 2-4-D to kill leaves and vines. Mr. Hyman mentioned that cutting the leaves at the root will kill the existing leaves that have grown on the trees.

Chairman Bryant mentioned the grid of the cemetery and shows this to Mr. Bright. Mr. Dew shows Mr. Bright the walkways (paths) on the grid. Mr. Hyman mentioned that Chapel Hill gravel will be applied to the entrance way and lanes. Mr. Bright states that the committee should first find out who is buried were and prepare a map. Chairman Bryant mentioned that the committee was planning to mark off 50 foot squares with the stakes and flags. Mr. Bryant states the committee will need approx. 700 flags/stakes to mark off the graves. Mrs. Bohannon-Mangum has several boxes in her garage, she will see if Combined Surveying Inc will donate the rest.

Mr. Dew and Mr. Hyman discuss metal rods that are able to detect where coffins are buried and wondered if this could work in Geer Cemetery to detect where people are buried. Mr. Bright and others wonder as most of these coffins are wooden and the burials, some over 100 yrs old, and the rods may not detect the coffins. Mr. Dew also mentioned that he spoke with Mr. Fulcher who chairs the NC Cemeteries Division and stated that if you have a personal interest in the grave, you can maintain the property per state regulations. Chairman Bryant wanted a copy of the rules and regulations regarding cemetery property maintenance. Mrs. Bohannon-Mangum has agreed to look on the web site and get a copy of the rules and regulations regarding NC Cemeteries.

Mr. Dew states that he had most of the pictures of headstones that were in the cemetery and had placed them on the website. Mrs. McNair wanted to know about the fallen markers, and if some one could set those upright. Mr. Bright states that his division has the equipment to upright headstones but it is heavy, and with the cemetery brush may be difficult to maneuver this equipment and also does not want the heavy equipment on the grave sites. Mr. Bright states this is best left to a monument company. Mr. Dew states that he spoke with Randy Bright of Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest who could assist us in setting heavy markers upright.

Mr. Bright stated that the committee needed a time line and suggested for the committee to concentrate on these three items : 1. Find out who is buried where – prepare grid map, 2. fill in the graves, 3. reset the stones that have fallen.

Committee Reports:

TROSA: states it is in the midst of the last clean up. Concentrating on cleaning around markers, and removing limbs. Mrs. McNair asked about the fallen tree that has been cut in several places. TROSA states they are in the process of removing the fallen tree out of the cemetery. Mrs. McNair wondered about other tall trees that were there in the cemetery. Mr. Bright states that the City of Durham does not like to cut live trees, and referenced the City of Durham Urban Forestry Dept .

Wills and Deeds to Geer:
Mrs. Bohannon-Mangum reported that Mr. Nat Clarke genealogist with Orange Co. was assisting us with the Deed to Geer, hope to hear from him on Wednesday 03/16/2005.

List serve / Web Administrator
Mr. Dew will add Mr. John L Bright and Mr. Bruce White (who was initially interested in interviewing family descendents of the cemetery to the list serve. As previously mentioned Mr. Dew has taken all the pictures of the cemetery markers and will post those to the web site.

Research Committee:
Mrs. McNair reported that she is still interested in the dates from 1914-1919 because the research did not report many people from those dates, and there was an influenza epidemic.

Chairman Bryant ended the meeting by announcing our first donation. Mr. Love sent FOGC a check for $10.00. Chairman Bryant read in part the letter that accompanied the check . … to assist with the sign, .. I have fond memories of walking through the cemetery as a child to 1003 Camden Street….

The meeting was closed by Chairman Bryant at 6:30 pm.
The next meeting will be held on April 11, 2005 at 5:00 pm, at Durham County Library. Chairman Bryant will reserve a room.

Minutes submitted by: Chantae Bohannon-Mangum