The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-12
MEETING TUESDAY
TOMAKEP PLANSFOR
OAK HILL CEMETERY
Mrs. DeBardeleben Talks of
Need for Formation of
Memorial Association
HOPES THE MEN WILL
BECOME INTERESTED
Cemetery Is Now Practically Full and
Steps Are to Be Taken to In
sure Perpetual Care of
the Graves

That there should be a permanent en-
dowment fund and business mems as
sociation for the upkeep of Oak Hill ceme-
terry is the belief of Mrs II. f. DeBarde-
leben, president of the Oak Hill Memorial
association.
According to Mrs. DeBardeleben the
present generation should take steps to-
ward a permanent organization for the
upkeep and beautifying of this cemetery
in which are buried many of the most
prominent citizens of Birmingham ard
which at the present time is nearly fun
and being neglected-at least not being
kept as it should be.
For some years Oak Hill cemetery has
been sadly neglected" said Mrs. DeBar-
deleben, but the present city commits
sion, upon being appealed to- corrected
this neglect by promptly taking steps to
better conditions at Oak Hill. However,
the city should have the cooperation
of an organization of private citizens tho
same as exists in various cities through
out the country for the permanent up
keep of the cemetery.
"The present Oak Hill Memorial asso-
citation is composed entirely of women,
and in my opinion 1t should be supplanred
by a similar organization of business men
and representatives of the pioneer lami-
lies of this district whose parents lie
buried in Oak Hill--the first cemetery of
Birmingham"
From the statements of Mrs. DeBar-
deleben and various others interested in
l.4. n
permanent endowment fund for the up
keep of Oak Hill cemetery it is gathered
that the project is one which should ap-
peal to all public spirited citizens Of
Birmingham. 1t is the plan of the ladies
forwarding this movement to awaken
public interest in the project, especially
among the pioneer families of Birmlng-
ham, for many of their dead sleep be-
meath the green sward of Oak HILL
Meeting Tuesday
There will be a meeting OF the Oak
Hill Memorial association in the reading
room of the Chamber of Commerce Tues
day morning at II o'clock at which Mrs.
| H. II. DeBardeeben, the president of the
association will bring this matter to the
attention of the members. The meeting
| is expected to be followed later by n mass
meeting of men for the purpose of TAX
| ing up the matter of forming a perma-
nent endowment fund for the upkeep Of
| the cemetery.
| The plan to be promulgated is that any
| person who is the owner of or represents
| the owner of lot in Oak Hill cemetery,
or who Is interested in the care of lot
in said cemetery may become and con-
| tinue a member of the association SO long
as such person pays, during the first week
of each month, dues to the association
on the following basis:
| Fifty cents per month where such per-
| son is the owner of, or represents the
owner of, or is interested In a lot con-
| tanning $50 square feet or dues on that
| basis; IL the lot contains more or less
| than 400 square feet. but in no event shall
| the monthly dues be less than 25 cents.
Duties of Association
The association shall look after. and
care for the lots In the cemetery deslg-
| mated by each member by keeping the
| grass out the trees and shrubs trimmed
| aud pruned and by keeping the walks or
streets abutting the lot in good condition,
and by sprinkling the grass In proper
| season so long as the person interested IN
| the lot is not more than three months in
arrears in the payment of dues.
| ANY person who desires to obigate the
| association to perpetual care for lot In
| Oak Hill cemetery may do so by making
! payments to the treasurer of the assocfa-
| tion on the following basis: One hun
| dred and fifty dollars shall be paid for
/ the perpetual care of a lot containing
| $50 square feet or payment shall be made
on that basis II the lot desired TO have
perpetual care contains more or less than
$50 square feet, but In no event shall the
amount paid for perpetual care of any
| lot be less than $40.
| The association shall issue to each per
| son who pays for the perpetual care OF
| a lot in the cemetery, certificate duly
| signed in the name of the association by
] the president and treasurer obligating the
| association to hold the fund paid for per-
petual care to be invested with other
| similar funds in trust, the income there
| from to be used to the extent necessary
| for the perpetual care of the lot and
| obIigating the association to perpetually
| care for the lot by keeping the walk or
street abutting the lot In good condition,
| trees and shrubs on the lot trimmed and
| uruned and to keep the lot sodded. and
| the turf thereon moved, and the monn-
| ment or stones thereon set up and in
place.
The above plan with various amend
| nents will be thoroughly discussed at
the meeting next Tuesday morning. Mrs.
| DeBardeleben who will preside, urges
| that every member be present