Stone wall excavation begins
October 2010 - Our committee received funding for a work project through Skills PEI and the Island Community Fund earlier this year - which was approved. The project concept is to hire a foreman, and four unskilled workers who could learn a trade, i.e. carpentry, etc. and develop their skills, while at the same time, helping to restore the cemetery.
The project commenced on October 18, and it is a 15-week project which will restore the stone wall around the cemetery; building two gates; a tool storage shed; and at the cemetery, as well as a garage at St. Margarets Hall. The project foreman, Lennie Rose, started Oct 18 organizing and planning the project work for the team which started on October 25.
After the first week of work, tremendous progress on excavating the stone wall was achieved, and we are very pleased with these efforts. A rented Bobcat earth mover helped the team clear both sides of the wall. The team is busy clearing roots and debris and organizing the stones. Local Island sandstone from nearby shores will be used to complete missing sections of stone wall, in the tradition of our ancestors. The team is enjoying what they are doing and they all work so well together. This is a unique experience for all of us - and they are happy to be a part of it!