We traveled to Florida, NY (Montgomery County) to participate in a cemetery clean-up on Saturday, 15 September 2012. I managed to beg, cajole, plead, and bribe 27 people to attend. Girl Scouts, Daughters of the American Revolution, cemetery preservationists and neighbors attended. I also convinced a professional restoration company to donate their time. I have to admit when we got there Friday, I thought perhaps I had over estimated what we could accomplish, but....
The Before:
The restoration group conducted a class on using D2, an approved substance, to clean a stone.
The before and after for the stone was amazing. One must be careful about cleaning stones. Bleach will ruin the stone. Using things line flour, bleach, cornstarch, and cocoa can damage and stain the stones. We were able to treat all the stones with D2. It will continue to work for 6 months. The rain will wash off the dirt, and reactivate the cleaner. We were told all the stones would be white when we come back in the spring.
The After:
The difference is just amazing. I wouldn't have been possible without everyone's help. The ladies of the church provided coffee/doughnuts and lunch. We started at 8:30AM, and the brush was gone by 10:30AM. We also planted periwinkle.
This cemetery contains the remains of several members of the Tryon County Militia and their family members. During the Revolution, most of Central New York was called Tryon County, a nod to British Governor Tryon. After the Revolution, everything British had to go, and the name was changed to Montgomery, after General Montgomery. Florida was originally a community known as Warrensbush, named for land owner Admiral Sir Peter Warren. In 1793, for reasons unknown, the residents voted to change it to Florida, though no one knows where they first heard the word.
Most of the Revolution was fought in the Mohawk Valley, not that any high school history text conveys this information. Students learn about New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Virginia as it pertains to the surrender of Cornwallis. They learn nothing else, and unfortunately, NY's new education plan advocates eliminating state history from their program. VERY sad.
The valley is beautiful...
On the way home, we stopped at my least favorite place to shop, Woodbury Commons. I have no idea what people like about this place. Too many people and poor prices. But, The Ralph Lauren Outlet in Tannersville no longer carries pillows. Woodbury Commons is the only place to get them, and they are now $5 higher.
We stopped at Goshen, NY to see the monument to the men who fought in the battle of Minsink Ford. The battle was one of the bloodies, and Mohawk Captain Joseph Brant,the only Indian to hold a British Commission, reported taking 40 scalps and 1 prisoner. The bodies, or what was left, were not recovered for 43 years. The remains of men from Orange and Sullivan County, NY and Sussex County NY (3rd Regiment of the Sussex County Militia) were buried in a mass grave, marked with the monument. We were very disappointed. The monument is in disrepair and in need of cleaning. Upon arriving home, I sent a letter tot he editor of the local paper, but it was never printed. Apparently the contributions of these men isn't valued enough to maintain the monument. How odd considering every freedom and right we enjoy is because they gave their lives.
Our last stop was at an orchard. WONDERFUL corn, doughnuts, and pumpkin pie.
Next trip, the Syracuse University Library, Special Collections.
