How to Reopen an Abandoned Cemetery

Many cemeteries fall into disrepair and are abandoned when new facilities are created, especially in small towns and rural communities. As a result, only the family members of those interred there maintain the abandoned cemeteries, and some families aren't able to be buried together. However, you may be able to reopen an abandoned cemetery if there is enough interest in it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Find out why the cemetery is abandoned by talking to longtime residents and researching at the local newspaper, morgue or historical society. Sometimes a cemetery is abandoned because the town it once served is gone or has grown very small; sometimes a cemetery's church has closed down or moved, leading to the abandonment; sometimes a city has run out of funds to maintain the cemetery.
2. Investigate whether the cemetery would be used if it's reopened. Distribute a survey or take a poll of community members to help you find out if reopening the cemetery is feasible.
3. Determine who owns the cemetery. You can find out at the county deeds office if locals aren't able to tell you.
4. Create a plan to get both community support and funding to reopen an abandoned cemetery. Determine how you can increase community support for the cemetery and brainstorm sources of funding. Funding might come from the ancestors of those buried there, from local or state historical societies or from local church members.
5. Propose reopening the cemetery to interested parties, including the owner and community members. The best way to propose the reopening is at a public meeting. Present your case strongly by including why you think it should be reopened, the level of interest you've found in it and how you plan to generate the necessary funds.
6. Seek funding to rehabilitate and reopen the abandoned cemetery. Contact those who might be interested in funding the cemetery in person whenever possible. Bring photos of the cemetery and be prepared to discuss why the cemetery should be reopened. Historical value and community pride are two good points to bring up, especially with locals.
7. Find ongoing sponsors to maintain the cemetery once you reopen it. More than anything, cemeteries need regular maintenance, which can be provided by a group of volunteers or by a professional groundskeeper paid by sponsors.
8. Hold a reopening celebration at the cemetery and encourage the media and community members to attend. This could be used as a volunteer day where people perform some basic maintenance to the grounds. If possible, have local city or religious officials speak at the reopening. Provide snacks and beverages and thank people for attending.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't reopen an abandoned cemetery, create a volunteer group to maintain it instead.