> Simon Fraser grave site restoration complete
Simon Fraser grave site restoration complete
Contact:
Maureen McAlear, 613.937.4462 ext 107; maureen.mcalear@sympatico.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
Maureen McAlear, 613.937.4462 ext 107; maureen.mcalear@sympatico.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
March 11, 2008
Famed explorer Simon Fraser might rest a little easier, now that his grave site is back in order.
The restoration of the cemetery where Fraser is buried became a three-year labor of love for a small group of historical buffs in St. Andrews West, Ontario.
Maureen McAlear of the Cornwall Township Historical Society says the group approached SFU early in its quest for help to restore the community’s cemetery. The society received a $2,500 donation from the university and personal donations from Yosef Wosk and Chancellor Brandt Louie.
They later secured two grants totaling $150,000 from the Ontario government. The funds also helped restore the stone fence surrounding the cemetery. It had crumbled due to weather and road salt.
The foundation of Fraser’s headstone was replaced in November. The group also put a new foundation under the headstone of Fraser’s wife’s parents, Allan and Isabella MacDonell, which is next to Fraser’s own plot. A stone monument was erected to commemorate the restoration work.
“The bulk of the work was completed just before the first snow came,” says McAlear. “We had such an accumulation of snow soon after that we’ve been unable since to see the fruits of our labor.”
While digging the hole in front of Fraser’s stone, workers uncovered another old headstone, belonging to Archibald McLellan, a partner of the Northwest Company. “There is a McLellan plot adjacent to Fraser’s, so we assume that it was originally in place nearby and somehow became buried,” says McAlear.
“Roadways went through the village on at least two occasions over the years and it is said that some graves were disturbed or moved at that time.”
With the work now complete, the community will turn its attention to celebrating the explorer’s bicentennial in June.
“I think that Simon Fraser would be amazed that people separated by such great distance could be brought together just because of his name and his deeds,” McAlear adds.
Photos of Fraser’s headstone available
The restoration of the cemetery where Fraser is buried became a three-year labor of love for a small group of historical buffs in St. Andrews West, Ontario.
Maureen McAlear of the Cornwall Township Historical Society says the group approached SFU early in its quest for help to restore the community’s cemetery. The society received a $2,500 donation from the university and personal donations from Yosef Wosk and Chancellor Brandt Louie.
They later secured two grants totaling $150,000 from the Ontario government. The funds also helped restore the stone fence surrounding the cemetery. It had crumbled due to weather and road salt.
The foundation of Fraser’s headstone was replaced in November. The group also put a new foundation under the headstone of Fraser’s wife’s parents, Allan and Isabella MacDonell, which is next to Fraser’s own plot. A stone monument was erected to commemorate the restoration work.
“The bulk of the work was completed just before the first snow came,” says McAlear. “We had such an accumulation of snow soon after that we’ve been unable since to see the fruits of our labor.”
While digging the hole in front of Fraser’s stone, workers uncovered another old headstone, belonging to Archibald McLellan, a partner of the Northwest Company. “There is a McLellan plot adjacent to Fraser’s, so we assume that it was originally in place nearby and somehow became buried,” says McAlear.
“Roadways went through the village on at least two occasions over the years and it is said that some graves were disturbed or moved at that time.”
With the work now complete, the community will turn its attention to celebrating the explorer’s bicentennial in June.
“I think that Simon Fraser would be amazed that people separated by such great distance could be brought together just because of his name and his deeds,” McAlear adds.
Photos of Fraser’s headstone available