Do you have a suggestion or an idea of something you would like to do to help which isn't on the list? We'd love to hear about it.

BUSINESS NEWS:

     FHRC incorporated with the state of Delaware on April 17, 2008. We have a checking account at Wilmington Trust and an account with the Delaware Community Foundation which is online at "www.delcf.org". The DCF currently provides our 501c (3) status. This month we are filing an application for our own non-profit status.

• Senate Bill 256: Governor Minner and Senator Henry invited us to attend the signing of the cemetery bill at Governor Minner's Wilmington's office in the Carvel State Building on August 1 at 2:00pm. It was exciting to be part of this process!

• Vandalism at Riverview: Bronze doors weighing 1000 pounds were taken from the public mausoleum. Also stolen were doors from the Todd family mausoleum and McDonough and Porter family crypt. Diamond State Recycling in Wilmington agreed to be on the lookout for the stolen property.

• Neighborhood Watch: When you are in the area, please drive slowly through the cemetery and report any suspicious activity or missing items to the city police. They have offered to drive through the cemetery and we hope their presence will increase security.

• Storm Damage: Several large tree branches fell, blocking two roads within the cemetery during a storm at the end of July. We are waiting to hear from City Parks and Recreation about possible branch removal and donation to the city firewood program.

• Storm Water Fee: Kate Wilhere attended the Public Works Informational Workshop on July 28. Storm water run-off fees will now be charged to cemeteries within the city limits, creating a financial hardship for most of them. We will join other cemetery owners and request special consideration for exemption or fee reduction.

ACTIVITIES:

• Clean-up Days: Monthly clean-up days are being planned for the fall and we are inviting the surrounding homeowners to join us. Our next date will be August 30 beginning at 9:00am. Come help beautify these 87 acres in the city by picking up sticks and trash, and trimming grass, shrubs, and weeds.

• Adopt-A-Plot: Let us know the areas that you are cutting. You may go on our website, find your section on the map and email the information to friendsofficers@gmail.com. You may also look under the mat on the Chapel steps for a map in a plastic sheet. Circle or mark your area and put your name on it. Everyone's effort to beautify the cemetery is greatly appreciated. Together we can make a difference!

• Grass Cutting: Cutting Edge did their second and final cut around July 14 on both sides of the cemetery and the City of Wilmington paid their fee. FHRC is waiting to hear from Senator Henry regarding the possibility of grass cutting services from the men at Plummer House to finish the 2008 growing season and begin the 2009 season.

INTERESTING FACTS:

• Mausoleums at Riverview: The public mausoleum has the remains of 246 people. The first funeral was held in the mausoleum in 1917 and the last one in May 2002. As you will notice on the cemetery map (www.Riverviewcem.com) there are five private family mausoleums on the West Side. These include: Todd, McDonough & Porter, Scott & Tharp, Stoeckle, and Dayett.

• Potter's Field: From it's beginning, Riverview Cemetery provided a dignified final resting place to everyone. Did you know there is a potter's field of public graves on the East Side near the old garage? Almost 5000 people are interred there many of whom are children and some of whom died in mass epidemics.

Special Thanks This Month To:

• Cutting Edge who did their second and final cutting in July. We hope they will continue to be one of our partners in 2009.

• Mrs. Frances Allmond, Registrar of Caesar Rodney Chapter & State Historian for the DAR, who checked diligently here and in Washington to determine if Clara Wallace Eyre, copied Riverview Cemetery Records (1963) and sent them to DAR. No records were found.

• Dotty Marx who witnessed and reported theft of public mausoleum doors and Cheryl Markiewicz who reported theft of Todd mausoleum doors in early July. Media Coverage was provided by Terri Sanginiti (News Journal), Lauren Wilson (Channel 6), TV 12 Delaware Tonight, and Chelsea Bourdeaux CN8. Thanks to Abdullah, Kate, Cheryl, and Dotty for taking the time for interviews.

• Scott MacKenzie who dontated his time to design a beautiful FHRC brochure; David deBussy, owner of Cann Printing donated the printing of 5000 brochures: and Lee Anderson at www.timestonepress.com who underwrote the cost of paper.

• Richard Sutor, Floyd Weber, Kay Schorah, Walt Mateja, are taking the lead on computerizing the remaining burial information from 1872 to 1930. The current data base (1930 to 2003) is available at the Delaware Historical Society.

• Lee Hagenbach (Gracelawn Cemetery) and Mark Christian (Cathedral Cemetery) shared time, expertise, and resources with FHRC leadership team.

• Friends, family members, neighbors of Riverview - for joining the FHRC and making donations to the endowment and operating funds.

       As always, we are ever thankful to Mike Bonkowski, Delaware Community Foundation, Russ Pickett, Jim Gish, Members of the VFW Post, and the Leadership team.

  
  

  
  
  The Riverview Cemetery website was created and is maintained by:
  Russ Pickett
  Page Last Updated: 8/3/2008