JamesCemetery Progress to Date and Restoration Project Goals

 May 27, 2007

  Progress to Date  

 November 2005 - Participated in the Make a Difference Day program, launching the JCOGS project to clean up, restore, and protect from further damage the James Cemetery. Began effort to locate and unearth buried or partially buried gravestones. The city of Jackson removes the majority of the massive oak tree 

 December 2005 - Dug holes and poured concrete footers for the four stone-faced block piers along the front (Broadway Street) side of the cemetery

 February 2006 - Completed installation of the four stone-faced block piers

 April 2006 - Continued locating and unearthing gravestones in the northeast quadrant of the cemetery. Re-erected to their proper position the first eight gravestones that had been most likely been buried for decades

 May 2006 - Awarded a Make a Difference Day grant given by the Governor's Office of Appalachia and Ohio's Appalachian Country Director Linda Basye

 June 2006 - Walked down the cemetery and transcribed all legible gravestone information 

 July 2006 - Raised money from local veteran's organizations/individuals and installed a high quality 30' aluminum flagpole. The city of Jackson installs a dusk-to-dawn light to illuminate Old Glory

 Summer and Fall 2006 - Continued excavating and erecting gravestones. To date, approximately 30 gravestones previously concealed for perhaps decades have been uncovered and 14 have been reinstalled to their upright position. This is slow, painstaking work that takes a great deal of time and caution...

 January 2007 - Began construction of the JCOGS James Cemetery website in order to increase awareness to Jackson county area residents on the significance of the cemetery, it's ancient Indian mound, and the importance of many individuals buried in the cemetery who were instrumental in the early exploration and development of Jackson, Ohio. It is important that we "protect, preserve and maintain' this significant local landmark before the winds of time cause it further destruction!

  February 2007 - The National Park Service has expressed an interest in visting the James Cemetery site in order to perhaps take a closer 'non-invasive' look at the ancient Indian mound, which is the only significant mound remaining within the city limits of Jackson, Ohio. More developments to come in the spring or summer hopefully...

 March 2007 - The three small insect-infested ash trees along the Broadway Street side of the cemetery have been removed with the city of Jackson's permission. Volunteer help was used to cut the trees and city employees removed the debris from the site

 May 2007 - The JCOGS is awarded the grand prize in the Time Warner Mid-Ohio Cable's 'Save Our History' contest

  Additional project goals and plans for 2007  

It is important to mention that all work to date has been accomplished by generous volunteers who have provided labor as well as donors and grantors who have provided materials for the work done thus far. In the spring, we shall continue unearthing toppled and buried gravestones, with the ultimate goal being to restore as accurately as possible the condition of the cemetery as it may have existed a century ago, when the last known burial in the James Cemetery took place. Small mechanical lifting devices will be needed to lift some of the large stones and obelisks back onto their proper foundations, which will be leveled and shored up as needed.

Our immediate goal for 2007 is to concentrate on restoration of the toppled gravestones and obelisks on and around the base of the Indian mound. Among those are the gravestones of Major John and Nancy James, John Denison James and family, Daniel and Nancy James Hoffman, et al. Daniel Hoffman was the man responsible for contructing the local Gibson House, a National Historic Register landmark, which was unfortunately recently demolished. 

The damage caused by vandals and neighborhood children through the decades is significant and, quite frankly, sickening to see when one stands on the crest of the ancient Indian mound and surveys the grounds. Major John James would be appalled to see what time and neglect have done to this sacred area he established for his family and friends in 1828.

With that in mind, the JCOGS has decided to undertake the ambitious goal of raising funds to purchase and install (again, with volunteer labor to every extent possible) a period style aluminum alloy fence in order to attractively enclose and protect (to the extent possible) the cemetery grounds. Our cemetery subcommittee has agreed upon a proposed type that will be sturdy, maintenance-free, attractive, and reflect the timeframe of John James and early Jackson, Ohio:

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