On Saturday, the DAR members planted flowers on Monument Hill, the original soldiers’ circle of graves in Lakeview Cemetery. This circle includes patriots from the American Revolution, Civil War and Spanish American War. As a part of their overall American 250th restoration project, the DAR hopes to have all of the flowers planted by July 4.

“Everyone will be bringing something of their own, and we will be planting and mulching,” DAR member Brenda Johnson said.

Johnson along with other DAR members Bonnie Larkin, Loretta Smith and Sharoyn Ruby spoke with the Post-Journal on Friday at Lakeview Cemetery about their project and planned work for today. Besides planting flowers the plan is to also restore the rock garden, pay for having the stones in the circle cleaned, and to get a light on the flag pole, along with a new flag. In the fall they hope to get bulbs planted around the rocks, and a monument that includes a bullet in reflection of the soldiers from the Spanish American war was recently painted as well.

“These guys deserve it,” Larkin said. “It’s sad because nobody has been maintaining the area for a while.”

Pictured is Monument Hill in Lakeview Cemetery, where the DAR will be planting flowers and doing work for their restoration project. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The family of a patriot bugler buried on Monument Hill had been taking care of the area for many years, but following the passing of a few generations the family has not been able to keep up with it, Larkin said. It was added that it was the family of George Schwob, who was the bugler, and they have been able to take care of some things, but others such as the flower planting they have not had the ability to do.

Four Revolutionary War soldiers are buried at Monument Hill, and the rest are from the Civil War and Spanish American War, with possibly some from 1812 as well. The Revolutionary War soldiers include Andrew Crawford, who lived from 1761 to 1839. He served as a private in the Massachusetts Continental Line, and lived to be 78 years old.

Another Revolutionary War patriot buried there is Joseph Fox, who was born in Massachusetts in 1753 and died in Kiantone in 1822 at the age of 69. He was originally buried in Kiantone Cemetery and then his body was removed and reinterred in Lake View Cemetery on an unknown date.

The third Revolutionary War soldier is William Washburn, who was originally buried in the second so-called Old Cemetery in Jamestown. He was born in 1766 and died in 1851, according to his gravestone inscription. Washburn is on Monument Hill in marker only.

Thomas Matthews is the fourth and final Revolutionary War soldier, born in 1747 and died in 1841. Matthews was involved in the surrender of Fort Chambly, Canada in 1775, and is also known to have fought in Harlem Heights in 1776. There is no confirmation of Matthews’ burial in either of the city’s two old cemeteries as no records exist, and there is no record of his remains being officially transferred to Lakeview Cemetery.

Seen on the edge are the four markers for the Revolutionary War soldiers on Monument Hill. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Of the stones on Monument Hill, there are 89 that the DAR are looking to clean as well as a part of this project once they have the funds.

“With a normal price for that many stones it would cost $5,600, but we’re only charging the DAR $2,000,” said Ken Fischer, superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery.

The chapter is also gratefully accepting donations for the project, as Larkin noted it is a very big project, with the flowers and stone cleaning. Getting a light for the flag pole was noted to also be something they are required to have by law. Larkin also noted that the Lake View Cemetery board has been very nice to the DAR in support of this project, and that there are 28 people who do not have a stone but it is known who they are and where they are buried.

Johnson added that they have already received good feedback on the project.

“The chapter is gratefully accepting donations for the project,” Johnson said. “We’ve already had people stop and say they’re glad we’re doing this.”

Pictured are the four Revolutionary War soldier markers. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Donations for the DAR’s project can be made through Venmo @JamestownDAR, or by making a check payable to Jamestown Chapter NSDAR, putting cemetery project in the memo line, and mailing checks to PO Box 1064 Sinclairville, New York, 14782-1064.

Two of the markers for the Revolutionary War soldiers on Monument Hill. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The other two soldier markers. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The repainted bullet marker for the Spanish American War soldiers on Monument Hill. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

A picture of Monument Hill before the DAR project began. Submitted photo