Goats, sheep take charge of Keeseville cemetery clean-up

KEESEVILLE | Nestled behind an apartment complex on Liberty Street is a cemetery forgotten by time, and Cemetery Revival, with the help of a herd of goats and sheep, is working to turn back time. The Old Burial Ground dates back all the way to 1811, with the last person being buried there in 1889. There are 208 plots, but it's hard to tell since the graveyard has become overgrown with grass, poison ivy, shrubs, and trees. Cemetery Revival, a volunteer-based group dedicated to restoring graveyards, recently took on the responsibility of bringing back to life the forgotten burial site. To do so, however, they needed a little extra help to get started. The group appointed Banjo Acres, a farm based in Malone that offers goat and sheep grazing for land management. "Bringing in [equipment like] tractors and mowers until you can see where the stones are is more likely to do more damage," said Chris Abbott, who runs the farm along with his wife, Robin. "That's where the animals come in." Earlier this month, Abbott brought in 15 goats and five sheep. Left overnight for about a week, the goats dined on an assortment of leaves and shrubs, while the sheep helped themselves to an ample amount of grass, clearing about a quarter acre a day. It took about a week to clear the one-acre site, according to Abbott, who brought in electric fences to concentrate areas they were nibbling in. As they worked each section, slowly but surely, more gravestones started to appear, leaving Cemetery Revival volunteers with the job of cleaning, securing, and restoring the stones. The group also plans on mapping out the cemetery and taking pictures of each stone for Find A Grave, a free online database of cemetery records and virtual memorials that allows people to find, record, and share information about the deceased's final resting places. The Old Burial Ground is not only the resting place of several Revolutionary War and Battle of Plattsburgh Heroes, but also Deacon William Taylor, who was one of the early leaders of the creation of the Baptist Church in Keeseville, which was fully completed and dedicated in 1828. Cemetery Revival's goal is to complete all of this sometime before July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, said volunteer Sharon Hoffman. Since its formation, the volunteer group, comprising six individuals, has not only spearheaded this project, but also helped restore approximately 50 gravestones in Faireview Cemetery in Au Sable Forks. "I like to call it, 'cemetery therapy,'" said volunteer Janne Lanzoni, who was a quintessential part of the Old Burial Ground clean-up effort. "We go in the mornings, and the cemeteries are nice and quiet, making it an almost peaceful experience. "But the most important part is working for other people who can't help themselves." Town of Ausable Tim Bresett expressed his gratitude toward Cemetery Revival for reviving the graveyard. "To have organizations like Cemetery Revival helping us get the graveyard back to where it's supposed to be is wonderful," said Bresett about the property that was transferred over to the town sometime after the Baptist Church closed. By state law, the town is required to perform regular maintenance, such as removing grass and weeds, at least twice a year; however, according to Cemetery Revival, the graveyard has been abandoned since 2009. "It is our responsibility; I'm not denying that, but I think it was just forgotten. That's why we're so grateful for this effort to get it back to where it's supposed to be so that we can maintain it going forward, which I will make sure happens." And to make extra sure, Cemetery Revival members are also working toward forming an official cemetery association, too, which would provide numerous benefits, such as offering tax-exempt status and deductible donations. In the meantime, those looking to assist in the Old Burial Ground clean-up effort can do so by signing up for Cemetery Revival's upcoming gravestone restoration training. On Sept. 26 and 27, Gravestone Guardians — a non-profit Massachusetts organization that specializes in cleaning, repairing, and restoring headstones — will be offering two hands-on classes. Saturday's class from 9 a.m. to noon will consist of cleaning, while Sunday's class will be more like a full-day event. That day, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Gravestone Guardians will teach attendees how to reset and repair gravestones. After lunch at the Ausable Valley Grange at noon, the class will continue from 1 to 4 p.m. The cleaning session costs $20 for the cost of materials, while the resetting and repairing one costs $50 for not only materials, but lunch, too. Those who aren't able to attend the training sessions but want to take part in the Old Burial Ground clean-up effort can do so by volunteering. To sign up or to learn more, email cemeteryrevival9@gmail.com. And for more information about Banjo Acres, which also offers sheep shearing and a market garden, call 518-365-0665 or visit banjoacres.com.

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Goats, sheep take charge of Keeseville cemetery clean-up

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