Keep part of Lambertville’s rich history
By: Mae Rhine
A local cemetery is a rich source of history of a town’s founders and their ancestors.
In fact, South Hunterdon Regional High School students last year used Lambertville’s Mount Hope Cemetery for a school history project.
But cemetery officials rely on the living to help keep the property in shape.
That’s why volunteers are needed for its annual Cleanup Day, scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bring the family and use it as an impromptu history lesson as you help rake, garden and do general yard work. Lunch will be provided.
With Memorial Day right around the corner, show your kids the graves of local veterans and talk about the sacrifices they made to preserve our freedom.
If you can help for a few hours, come to the main entrance of the cemetery on South Franklin Street at 11 a.m.
If it’s raining, Cleanup Day will be Sunday at the same time.
Not so many years ago, the cemetery became neglected and overgrown. Burial there were infrequent during the 1970s and 1980s because it was not well maintained.
But a group of neighbors rallied in the 1990s and cleaned up the cemetery, which had become a haven for vandals.
Now the property is well maintained again, and the cemetery association, operated by volunteers, is planning to make Mount Hope a fully professional operation within the next few years.
Help do your part to preserve the city’s rich history.
For information, call 397-5675 or visit www.mounthopecemetery.org.