St. Columban Cemetery Restoration Project Update

[Fergus_Keyes]

[size=10pt]St. Columban Cemetery Restoration Project Update [/size]

[b]This past summer we managed to complete about 75% of our restoration project of the Old Irish Cemetery in St. Columban (near St. Jerome), including building a very strong foundation and three walls.

However, the rain that was experienced almost every weekend this past summer prevented our volunteer bricklayer from fully completing the project.

So, we have decided to start another fundraising campaign this March in the hope of raising the approximate $ 5.000 needed to hire a full time paid bricklayer and complete this effort.

Any company or individual that would like to donate to this cause can simply send a check to the SPS payable the St. Patrick?s Society of Montreal with a note that it for the St. Columban project. (They also have the option of calling the SPS office if they would like to donate with their credit card) and all, or part, of the donation is eligible for a tax receipt.

Our definite hope is that this project, started in 2005, will finally be completed by the end of May to coincide with the 175th Anniversary of the founding of the Parish St. Columban.

Additional details can be found on our site at www.stcolumban-irish.com or by e-mail to info@stcolumban-irish.com

[Fergus_Keyes]

[size=10pt]St. Columban Cemetery Restoration Project Update [/size]

[b]This past summer we managed to complete about 75% of our restoration project of the Old Irish Cemetery in St. Columban (near St. Jerome), including building a very strong foundation and three walls.

However, the rain that was experienced almost every weekend this past summer prevented our volunteer bricklayer from fully completing the project.

So, we have decided to start another fundraising campaign this March in the hope of raising the approximate $ 5.000 needed to hire a full time paid bricklayer and complete this effort.

Any company or individual that would like to donate to this cause can simply send a check to the SPS payable the St. Patrick?s Society of Montreal with a note that it for the St. Columban project. (They also have the option of calling the SPS office if they would like to donate with their credit card) and all, or part, of the donation is eligible for a tax receipt.

Our definite hope is that this project, started in 2005, will finally be completed by the end of May to coincide with the 175th Anniversary of the founding of the Parish St. Columban.

Additional details can be found on our site at www.stcolumban-irish.com or by e-mail to info@stcolumban-irish.com

[Fergus_Keyes]

[size=10pt]URGENT APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS AND DESCENDANTS OF ST. COLUMBAN[/size]

[size=10pt][size=10pt]Our St. Columban Irish Cemetery restoration has become very, very frustrating and in a meeting yesterday with the Church Wardens, they are demanding that we finish the project by May at the latest...

This year is their 175th anniversary of the founding of the Parish of St. Columban and the ?Fabrique? do not want construction materials and/or work going on in the cemetery over the summer.

Our problem was that last summer; it rained every single day that our volunteer bricklayer was available to work on the project - and no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn?t finish it.

To date, we have invested over $ 10,000 from our fundraising efforts for a strong foundation, and the building of the three walls necessary to mount the broken tombstones. We still have about $ 1000 left in our account at the St. Patrick?s Society of Montreal.

We have determined that the only possible way to finish by May would be to hire a regular ?full time? bricklayer who could likely finish the project in a week. The estimates that we have on hand for this work, from three different bricklayers, are in the $ 4,000 - $ 5,000 range.

We therefore, have to make this appeal to the descendants and friends of St. Columban to determine

1. If any of you are willing, and able, to donate some additional funds to the effort - it would be very, very much appreciated.

2. Is there anyone that is willing to loan the project $ 4,000. while we continue on with our fundraising efforts over the next months?

Details on how you can donate are on our main page and if you need additional information, please send me an e-mail to
info@stcolumban-irish.com

Thanks

Fergus Keyes[/size][/size]

[Fergus_Keyes]

[size=10pt]URGENT APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS AND DESCENDANTS OF ST. COLUMBAN[/size]

[size=10pt][size=10pt]Our St. Columban Irish Cemetery restoration has become very, very frustrating and in a meeting yesterday with the Church Wardens, they are demanding that we finish the project by May at the latest...

This year is their 175th anniversary of the founding of the Parish of St. Columban and the ?Fabrique? do not want construction materials and/or work going on in the cemetery over the summer.

Our problem was that last summer; it rained every single day that our volunteer bricklayer was available to work on the project - and no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn?t finish it.

To date, we have invested over $ 10,000 from our fundraising efforts for a strong foundation, and the building of the three walls necessary to mount the broken tombstones. We still have about $ 1000 left in our account at the St. Patrick?s Society of Montreal.

We have determined that the only possible way to finish by May would be to hire a regular ?full time? bricklayer who could likely finish the project in a week. The estimates that we have on hand for this work, from three different bricklayers, are in the $ 4,000 - $ 5,000 range.

We therefore, have to make this appeal to the descendants and friends of St. Columban to determine

1. If any of you are willing, and able, to donate some additional funds to the effort - it would be very, very much appreciated.

2. Is there anyone that is willing to loan the project $ 4,000. while we continue on with our fundraising efforts over the next months?

Details on how you can donate are on our main page and if you need additional information, please send me an e-mail to
info@stcolumban-irish.com

Thanks

Fergus Keyes[/size][/size]

[Fergus_Keyes]

Our friend, Al Lewis, who operates the Ottawa area family history site called ?Bytown or Bust?, has let me know that he has added our ?Urgent Appeal? to his site at: www.bytown.net/okaosgoodeconnections.htm

Since many original St. Columban settlers moved to the Ottawa, Ontario area, Al?s site is likely of some interest to our St. Columban descendants

[Fergus_Keyes]

Our friend, Al Lewis, who operates the Ottawa area family history site called ?Bytown or Bust?, has let me know that he has added our ?Urgent Appeal? to his site at: www.bytown.net/okaosgoodeconnections.htm

Since many original St. Columban settlers moved to the Ottawa, Ontario area, Al?s site is likely of some interest to our St. Columban descendants