FoMM Meeting Minutes, 7/16/2005

Written by John Ellingsworth

Monday, 12 April 2004

Below are the minutes from the meeting of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, held 7/16/2005. The management of the cemetery were invited but declined to attend, citing other 'professional obligations'.  Friends of Mount Moriah Meeting June 16,2005 American Legion Post 51 Meeting began at 7:30 pm with an introduction by John Ellingsworth.  He gave a brief background of the Friends of Mount Moriah (FOMM) and introduced the video about the cemetery produced  as part of 'Precious Places'.  Precious Places is a four hour video production composed of ten minute segments created by twenty one community organization in Philadelphia and vicinity funded by a grant awardedto Scribe, Inc. Beth Palubinsky and John Ellingsworth thanked  American Legion Post 51 and its members for their very generous hospitality and called on those attending to introduce themselves. The following introductions are presented here with apologies to everyone participating  for any errors or lack of precision.  Please feel free to correct us with any corrections. Malika Johnson, who lives in southwest Philadelphia and whose interest in the group lies in her interest in the betterment of the community. Bruce ?? whose grandfather's stone at MM has been knocked over. David Knapton representing the City Planning Commission. Sam Ricks, a member of Town Watch. Joe Stokes of the Sons of the American Revolution, an organization which has been attempting to identify the graves of Revolutionary soldiers interred at MM. Cathy Kochersperger who is interested in finding Civil War ancestors at MM. Erin Coryell who is new to Philadelphia and interested in historic preservation. Bill Boehmer, a Civil War student who appeared in Union uniform in the video. Judy Bretzger who appeared in the video and has several ancestors buried at MM. Dot Reedy who has ancestors buried at MM and wants to help improve conditions there. Judith Goldham who once lived on Cemetery Avenue and has parents and other ancestors buried at MM. Kim Porter, her daughter, who described a tree falling on her grandmother;s stone.  The family had to remove it. Donna Wirpsza who is her motherÆs driver and has worked at putting flags on veteranÆs graves on Memorial Day. Beth Palubinsky who lives in University City and worked to secure the video award and has been a driving force behind FOMM. Kathy Smith has worked tirelessly on the video and has been instrumental in FOMMÆs outreach to community groups. John Ellingsworth has many relatives buried at Mount Moriah, appeared in the video, shot footage for the video and has been a persistent advocate for reform at MM. Mary Finley who has been attempting to get information about here ancestors. Discussion included: - looking into using persons sentenced to Community Service to clean the cemetery; - cooperating with those invloved with Laurel Hill Cemetery; - encouraging those who can prove they paid for perpetual care to write letters to city and state officials; - contacting officials to get rid of the wild dogs; - and contacting the Fairmount Park commission, which is responsible for Cobbs Creek. Kim said she would investigate the use of Community Service. Sam offered to look into the wild dog issue. Dot offered to call the Fairmount Park Commission. Beth agreed to put letters on the website. It was agreed that FoMM meetings would be held quarterly, with the next meeting sometime in September. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )

 

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