03/16/2025
Volunteers Needed
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR EMAIL IF YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP OR IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION
Deb Aaron Hebron, NE./ [email protected] / 785-527-0387
DATE: April 6th 1-5 pm Sunday afternoon
PLACE: The Old Meridian Cemetery aka Boot Hill Cemetery (NOT Meridian Presbyterian Cemetery) From highway 53 (that runs north and south near the eastern edge of Thayer County, go east on river road (north of the Little Blue River) follow the curves until you reach a T intersection. From that point go north on Navy road, then west at the next intersection or 717th, then north, then west and you will be at 717th road and 558 avenue. We will meet there, or someone will direct you into the field.
RAIN: This is on dirt roads, and if it rains it will be impossible to get there.
Rain date will be May 4th.
NO SMOKING on site
RESPONSIBILITY: You are responsible for yourselves and any accidents or injuries and cannot hold the landowner liable
NO ONE under the age of 18 please. Power equipment and heavy moving equipment on site
NEEDS Chain saws, Nippers, w**d eaters, push mowers, rakes, rakes and more rakes. Rakers, gloves and folks willing to remove brush and bring and run a w**d eater..
BREAK Snacks and water will be provided.
POISON IVY Maybe?
Please feel free to forward to anyone you think might be interested. There are probably some historians in Jefferson County who would like to know where this is so if you know of any feel free to forward this to them.
HERE IS SOME FUN INFORMATION:
There is a little known cemetery in Thayer County that is in need of care. This cemetery is where some of the first burials were made back when the town of Meridian was started (circa 1867) and possibly before. The burial ground dates back to when there was little law in the area, and at least two men that were involved in disputes and murdered are believed to be buried there. The last known burial was in 1873, however the current land owner George Barton, did place a stone and cremated remains there in 2020 in memory of his father who owned the land before him. I found a 1958 article in the newspapers that showed the cemetery in disrepair, and I don't think anything has been done since that time. Rumor was that it was plowed over, I have found evidence to the contrary. There are still a few tombstones out there that were moved or knocked over by tree fall. There may be more stones, if not pieces under the brush. A few stones were removed from the cemetery at some point in the latter part of the 20th century, one was placed in the Alexandria cemetery, however the remains of Mary C Starr were not moved. One stone was returned a few months ago to the Meridian Presbyterian Cemetery and laid outside the fence. I picked up the pieces and took them back to the original cemetery where she is. I am in hopes of locating its base and I am so grateful to the unknown person that returned the pieces. I hope that they reach out to me with more information on the burials out there. One tombstone made of clay was reassembled and is in the museum in Belvidere where it remains safe from further damage.
The intent of the clean up is to locate any stones or pieces, put them back where they belong, if possible, and hopefully discover more about those people that braved the "great american desert" and most importantly give these burials the respect they deserve. This cemetery lays next or on the Oregon Trail and in some articles it is near where the military trail meets the Oregon Trail.
Read about those that are buried there: Patterson may not be there though. The others likely are or they have tombstones. Here is a link to the known burials:
Memorials in Old Meridian Cemetery - Find a Grave
Thank you for considering volunteering
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