Now thanks to the efforts of our members,
community leaders and all our supporters construction is finally beginning on
the initial phase of the project. This will be a monument wall where the
broken stones will be permanently embedded to preserve the memory and legacy
of our ancestors.
Visit this page often to follow the progress of
the wall construction and other repairs to the cemetery.
June 11, 2010
The walls are finally complete! Finishing touches
were made today with the completion of the parging on the wall foundations.
There will be a grand unveiling ceremony on July 3, 2010 starting at the St.
Columban Parish around 10:30 a.m.
Here's some new photos of the completed walls.
http://www.stcolumban-irish.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2571
Unveiling of the St. Columban Cemetery Monument
On Saturday, July 3rd, 2010, the descendants, and
friends, of St. Columban will unveil the Cemetery monument dedicated to the
original Irish Settlers in St. Colomban and, you’re invited!
Find
out more about this important event and how to attend.
May 13 2010
After a Summer of rainy weekend in 2009 that
delayed the wall construction things are moving along once again in phase 2 of
the project to install the broken grave markers into the wall. Work began
again on May 13, 2010. Here's an update from Ken Neil:
Here's some new photos of the recent work
progress.
http://www.stcolumban-irish.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2392
July 25, 2009 - from Ken Neil
Hi Everyone,
Today we received all the materials. Scotty and
Martin arrived at the same time and construction was started. The blocks were
laid for the first wall and the first course for the second wall. Tomorrow
(Sunday), weather permitting, we will complete the second wall and start the
third. If all goes well we should start the brick and headstone work next
weekend. Scotty thinks that it should take about 4 weekends.
Some photos of the progress are available here.
http://www.stcolumban-irish.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2173
That's it for now
July 12, 2009 - From Fergus Keyes
On Saturday, July 11th, a few of us, including my
nephew, Scott Leggo, and Ken Neil, our descendant project manager, were on site
at the Cemetery. The objective was to measure the various broken stones and
fragments in order to determine how much material, i.e. Bricks; mortar etc...
was needed for the walls.
Scott, who is a professional bricklayer, has agreed
to provide all his labor for free and in addition, his company, SCOMAR had some
specific t-shirts made for their staff and some of the descendants for this
particular project.
A few pictures are posted here.
http://www.stcolumban-irish.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2154
It is likely that in the next few weekends that we
will put out a call for all able-bodied descendants to help with this project.
Many of the stones are very, very heavy and we probably will need some help to
lift and hold them in place while the bricks are placed.
June 2, 2009 - from Ken Neil
Just to let you know that the foundations were
backfilled today. I'm impressed with the foundations. They are very
substantial and very well reinforced. They are not going to move, no matter
what.
On Saturday I met with Scotty, Fergus' nephew,
who is going to do the brickwork. He was very excited to be asked to
contribute to our project. We are extremely grateful to Scotty to volunteer to
do this. He is a very experienced and competent mason who takes pride in his
work. He is just as excited as we are to get going. Maybe we can start the
weekend of June 26th.
I told Scotty that we would place the broken
grave markers in front of the walls, approximately where they should be placed
on the wall. Next, I have to order the materials, schedule deliveries and
determine methods of payment.
Lastly I had a long conversation with Stanley
last night and he insists that there are five or six headstones in the ravine
next to the lilac bushes. I will discuss it with him again and see what we can
do.
That's it for now,
Take Care
May 28, 2009 - from Ken Neil
Bonsoir everyone,
We are all now the proud parents of 3 foundations
in the St. Columban Cemetery. The pouring of the foundation walls was
completed today. The forms will be removed tomorrow and we can backfill by
Monday. Raymond will co-ordinate that with the city. It looks pretty good.
I hope to meet with Scotty this weekend to
discuss the tech parts and the schedule. Fergus will advise.
Next we have to plan a meeting to choose the
bricks and discuss the purchase of materials. I think that we can start within
the next 2-3 weeks.
There are a lot of other issues to put on the
table. When we decide on a date I will prepare an agenda.
I will try to attach a few photos from today.
May 22, 2009 - from Fergus Keyes
Yesterday, May 21st 2009, phase one of the work
began on building a very strong and long-lasting foundation for the wall that
will honour our ancestors.
Claude Bourguignon; Ken Neil and myself were all
on hand to watch this start of construction. Certainly after almost 4 years of
meetings; planning; and fundraising for us all, it was an historic step.
It should also be noted that when the Town of St.
Columban dug the trench on our behalf, that they were very careful not to
disturb any bones that might be in the area. Luckily, it appears that there
were never any burials in the immediate area of the cross near the front
center of the cemetery – and none of our ancestors were disturbed.
The effort to build this foundation appears to
have gone very well. Our form contractors appeared exactly on time; and the
cement truck and another special “cement pump” truck also appeared on the site
just as the forms were ready. Ken Neil certainly seems to have chosen the
right contractor for this delicate job.
Check out the updated photo gallery.
Check out a compilation of videos of the footing construction!
The next step is to add a cement structure on to
the base to bring the wall just above the level of the cemetery ground and
then the Town of St. Columban has agreed to return and put the earth back in
around this form.
Next we will have to choose the bricks for the
wall and start the wall construction likely in a week or two, after the form
and foundation have completely “cured” and hardened.
We may have to repair some grass and stuff in the
cemetery where the trucks and other machinery had to move to gain access to
the site.
Once again, we will likely have to raise
additional funds, so if any of you would like to make a donation, please go to
our donation page for
details about making your donation to the St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal on
behalf of this project.
We will keep you up-to-date as we move along with
the project.
Thanks for your support
Fergus Keyes
May 20, 2009 - from Ken Neil
On Monday Claude and I met with Raymond Pigeon of
the Fabrique. He insisted on doing the layout and we made sure that it was in
the area that we discussed. Raymond was very co-operative.
On Tuesday morning again Claude, Raymond and
myself were there for the excavation. The city sent in a large machine and
after some initial problems with Raymond re the size of the pit, he wanted it
to be 3ft. wide and we needed 7ft. After some discussion he agreed and left.
We ended up 8-9ft. We couldn't achieve the 5' depth that we wanted because we
hit solid rock anywhere from 2ft. to 4ft. This should not cause a problem as
the excavator will pin the foundation to the rocks with rebar. The length of
the walls will be 16ft.
The city will kindly set up security perimeter.
The forms were supposed to be installed today but
has been delayed till tomorrow. The company will call me tomorrow an hour or
so before so we can be there. (I'm attaching a copy of the new layout drawing
which I did last night). Hopefully the concrete will be poured Friday. The
forms will then be removed on Monday and the earth replaced by the city on
Tuesday or Wednesday. I will confirm this after the pour.
We will have to do some repairs to the grass as
the machine was track propelled and quite heavy.
I noticed that there were many headstones leaning
precariously. There were also a few fallen over and a couple ready to go. Many
were very, very dirty and need to be cleaned.
I took a number of photos available here:
Restoration Project Photo Gallery
Check out a compilation of videos of the excavation!
Next we'll have to choose the brick and blocks
and make a list of all other materials required, decide where to buy them and
method of payment. We have to set up a schedule etc. We will have to get
together to finalize the technical end ie. size of block, type of brick,
reinforcement etc.
May 15, 2009 - from Ken Neil
Today I spoke with Raymond Pigeon. He was very
pleasant and co-operative. He will be at the cemetery on Monday, May 18 to do
the layout with us. He will bring whatever is necessary to stake out site.
I also contacted the foundation company and they
confirmed that they are ok for Wednesday. Considering all the variables we
should be able to start the wall within 2 weeks after that.
Claude advises that the city will start the
excavation on Tuesday, May 19, at 8:30am. He will also ask the city if they
can provide for some security around the excavation site and if they will
refill after the cement has cured.
The city of St. Columban has agreed to do the
excavation on May 19th., weather permitting.
The layout for the excavation will be done by one
of our group, Kelley O'Rourke. She will also supervise the landscaping after
the walls are built.
The foundation will be done by Les Fondations
Arcotec de St. Columban. They will erect the forms May 20th. and pour the
concrete May 20th. or 21st. Seven to ten days later we will be ready to start
the brickwork. The brickwork will be done by a nephew of Fergus Keyes, again
one of our group.
The bricks to be used will be new clay bricks
with an antique look. We have not yet decided on a particular brick nor a
supplier. I will let you know as soon as I have some information.
It is our aim to build a monument that we can all
be proud of and that will last another 150 years. This is very important to us
and we respect the concerns of the Fabrique. We have a common goal.
The fence has suffered again this winter and is
in very bad shape. It obviously has to be reconstructed. Unfortunately we do
not have enough funds to do this but any money left over from the walls could
possibly be directed to the fence. We are lobbying the city to help to pay for
the reconstruction of the fence. The Fabrique has suggested asking some local
sponsors to pitch in financially as well.
St. Columban, Quebec, Canada was settled mainly by Irish Immigrants in the early 1800’s.
On October 1st 2005, a number of family researchers visited the area.
We had heard that some tombstones, due to vandalism and the simple ravages of time, had fallen over. We had also heard that many of them had been unceremoniously discarded behind the St. Columban Catholic Church.
Many of us were not prepared to discover that the final markers of many of our original Irish ancestors to Canada, were to be found in the “bush” behind the church. They were thrown on top of one and another – broken and forgotten. As well, we found some other broken tombstones, still in the cemetery, but they simply lay on the ground or were standing against other upright tombstones.
Would you be willing to contribute money if we have to raise funding to make this project fully or partially self-financing?
See our Restoration Fund page.
Please forward any of your comments on this Cemetery Restoration project to either Anne or Kelley listed above, of send a note by e-mail to fergus@stcolumban-irish.com
Thank You
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