AN ANSWER: We frequently get letters concerning the state of
local cemeteries, complaints which seem to peak around Memorial
Day.
Not long ago, we printed one about the state of Oak Hill
Cemetery and it prompted this note from Judy Warnick, an officer in
the Lamphier Cemetery Association, Eldred:
“As an officer of a cemetery in Eldred, I am very familiar with
this situation. Our Oak Hill in Eldred is also in disarray. If the
cemetery is full, there are no more lots to sell, so thus no money
coming in.”
“Once the money set aside is gone, you can’t pay for insurance
or people to take care of it. Boy Scouts and concerned citizens
have helped, but if it’s not done weekly, it’s all grown up.”
“There are no grants out there to help and with not much money
coming in to purchase more land, you can’t get a loan.
“Since most cemetery have rules on how many flowers can be put
on your loved one’s graves, why not make a memorial to the cemetery
association? The funeral directors usually know whom to
contact.
“Why not add the cemetery association to the list of charities
in the obituary. This would greatly help the care of your
cemetery.”
BOB SEGER: Allow us to touch on another recent RTS subject and
possibly introduce a new one.
Lola Norris of Columbus, Ohio, writes, “A few days ago I sent a
possible answer for the Bob Seger mystery. I was wrong in my guess
as to why Allegany and Olean ended up in the song but I did think
of St. Bonaventure as being a possibility. So much fun reading
about it.”
“Now I have a question. Is the old Castle Restaurant still
existing between Allegany and Olean?
“My husband and I visit Bradford at least once a year since it
is my home town and a group of us, namely ‘The T.H. Club’ used to
go there for our special nights out.
“Since ‘T.H.’ stands for ‘Tuesday Housewives,’ sometimes we’d
even let our husbands go.
“If it is still there, I would like to show my second husband a
great night out when we come up in August for the Italian Festival.
There was no place, then, like the Castle.”
Sorry to tell you, Lola, but the Castle is gone, gone, gone – if
not the memories.
