The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-08-12
pEFuNcT OR SLEEPING?

What has happened to the move
ment to fence St. Michaefs Cemetery?
This splendid project, launched with
so much ecIat some two years ago,
seems to be as defunct as the locality
it proposed to improve. Where are
| the wonderful air castles so prodigally
constructed by the erstwfiIe enthus-
iastic members Of the st. Michaefs
Cemetery Improvement Association;
the magnificent new iron fence which
was to enclose the halIowed remains
of generations long since passed be-
yond this bank and shoal of time;
the Wanted civic pride, which was TO
lift the stigma of neglect from the his
| toricaI spots of our fair city?
What has happened to all these
great plans? Alas, they are OF such
stuff as dreams are made Of" and
| have, apparently, vanished into thin
air. Finally and more concretely. what
| has become Of the numerous and SUBJ
stantia1 contributions so glib1y prom
ised by many friends Of the Cemetery
| Association? Some have fulfilled their
| pledges, but most are conspicuous by
their absence.
Frankly, something is wrong That
| the final resting place of Marie Guile
| marde, John Innerarity, the Simpsons,
Reese, Campbells, Avery, Judah, Bros
naham, Sierra, and other pioneers Of
Pensacola, should be permitted to de-
cay as has st. Michaers Cemetery, is
a serious reflection on the progressive
ness Of our community.
Now will someone kindly inform me
what steps have been taken recently
towards erecting the proposed fence
n$I at
cemetery? Since persons of all creeds
rest beneath it's soil, and since it is
place of local historical interest apart
from any sectarian significance, all
denominations should unite in aiding
the cause of the Cemetery Association.
Individuals of all beliefs comprise its
officers and members. and the founder
of the movement is a non-Catholic
whose civic pride and love for Pen
sacola of bygone days prompted them
to seek a remedy for the sad condi-
tons obtaining at st. Michaefs.
The proposed fence is to be Of gal
vaized iron resting upon a concrete
base extending twelve inches above
and below the ground. Six gates, two
large or drive gates for vehicles and
four smaller ones for pedestrians, viii
face on Alcaniz street. 1t is planned
to have four granite pillars form the
gates on AIcaniz street, two large and
two small ones. The fence itself, as
aforestated, will be of galvanized iron
bars with concrete base, and should
prove a durable, permanent structure.
- It is sincerely to be hoped that the
plans of the st. MichaeFs Cemetery |
Improvement Association will be real |
lied in the near future. but this can
only be accomplished with the gener- |
Gus cooperation of the people OF PEN |
sacoia. Contributions must be many, |
and pledges fulfilled. Lack Of support |
spells failure. But perhaps the time /
is inopportune for the execution of this |
worthy project? The stringent finan- |
cia1 conditions Of today may demand |
an indefinite poStponement of the |
Cemetery Associations work. Then |
let US have few expressions Of opin-
ion from the community at large, and |
particularly those individuals most di-
rectly concerned IN this enterprise.
Otherwise this movement should be
continued with the utmost vigor; /
pledged money secured, new contribu- Il
tions added, and plans SO glowingiy Il
made in the abstract reduced to con-
crete-and iron rail. By such meas
1res we will soon be able to point with
pride to the spot where the earthly re-
mains OF Pensacola's founders sleep
heir long repose.
EARLE LeBARON.