The cemetery, located along Route 54 in Girardville and has become overgrown with brush due to no maintenance for years, has been a topic on social media recently. The St. Borromeo Church, Ashland, scheduled the meeting for the public to ask questions to determine a way to refurbish the cemetery, which is deemed a historic site.
The cemetery was believed to have been established in 1870 with the last person buried there in the 1950’s. The cemetery last owned by St. Joseph’s Church, Girardville, but later passed to St. Borromeo’s when the parishes combined.
The meeting was held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Parish Center in Ashland with roughly 10 people in attendance.
Father Rothermel opened the meeting with prayer and welcomed everyone to the church. He turned the meeting over to Dave Williams, a surveyor, who was the meeting’s moderator.
Williams introduced himself and shared his experienced with previous projects like the restoration of a cemetery in Tower City and a park in Valley View. He also talked about how the methods used during that project could be used toward the Girardville Cemetery. Williams talked about the need to clean up the cemetery, create more parking, and designate a chairman for the project.
Williams also spoke on the need for funding and grants. A grant was unable to be obtained through the Schuylkill County Veteran Affairs office and said the money will most likely need to be raised within the church.
Also on the panel were Mark Watson, Father Paul Rothermel, and James Kilker, an attorney and solicitor.
The floor was opened to the public with Paul Kowalick speaking first. Kowalick said he visits the cemetery in January, February, and March to tend to the plot of a Civil War veteran. “Everyone deserves a dignified resting place”, said Kowalick. He did say he stays out of the cemetery the remainder of the year due to safety issues.
Kowalick agreed about the parking situation and the dangers of entering the cemetery, but said you will be fine if you use some common sense. Kowalick also pointed out that a cleanup ran by anyone that didn't know the cemetery would be very dangerous.
Robert Krick, a Girardville councilman and President of the Girardville Historical Society, was also in attendance. Krick agreed on what Williams and Kowalick spoke on previously and added that some path’s need to be cleared to gain access to the cemetery.
Krick added that if some paths were cleared, it may generate interest to the cemetery.
Mark Watson, who worked on previous projects with Williams talked getting out and take photos to help lay out the plan for the project.
The meeting was a good start for the project for the church to hear the public’s opinion. The next step in the project will be to generate interest and determine if the project will be worth taking on as well as committing to the up keep of the cemetery refurbishment.