192 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
pruned or cut out entirely where it seemed 
best, and after some weeks of strenuous 
labor a decidedly changed appearance gn 
the cemetery rewarded their efforts. 
Realizing that order and system are es- 
sential to success in all business affairs, 
the workers felt the need of an organiza- 
tion which would be properly recognized 
as a corporate body. While the old or- 
ganization had served a useful purpose, 
the demand was for one that should be 
legally stronger, and that with business con- 
ducted under state laws might become a 
helpful factor in the wide movement for 
cemetery improvement. 
Accordingly, early steps were taken 
toward incorporation of the old associa- 
tion, and after a number of weeks this, 
was acomplished under Michigan statute, 
Act No. 87, of the year 1855, with amend- 
ments thereto, the lot owner or owners of 
rights of burial being the stockholders in 
the new association. 
Then followed the election of a board 
of nine trustees and at their first meeting 
officers were elected, by-laws adopted and 
a Memorial Trust Fund established for 
perpetual care of lots. The nucleus of this 
fund was a bequest of $75 from a lady 
who had relatives buried there. 
From a small beginning the Memorial 
Trust Fund has already grown to con- 
siderable proportions. At the present time 
it consists of more than $800 in money 
and $1,900 in memorial notes. 
One of the members conceived the idea 
of notes for this fund being accepted by 
the association. The interest, not less than 
3 per cent, due May 1, annually, cares for 
the lot on which note is given. A note 
may be paid at any convenient time or left 
as a claim against one’s estate. The plan 
has worked out most satisfactorily and the 
notes held by the association are consid- 
ered among its most valuable assets. By 
this method the corporation is relieved of 
the care of the money until such time as 
the notes are paid in. 
The cash Memorial Trust Fund is to be 
invested “in such safe and productive se- 
curities as the Board of Trustees shall 
determine,” and is now invested in a bond 
bearing 4 per cent interest, together with 
an accumulating amount in the savings 
bank at 3 per cent. 
A deposit of $50 by cash or note is re- 
quired for perpetual care of lots contain- 
ing 480 square feet, and on lots of greater 
or less area the sum required is in propor- 
tion. As the interest on these several 
sums is deemed necessary for their proper 
maintenance a by-law of the association is 
that no lots in future shall be sold with- 
out this provision. “Care” means that the 
lots shall be kept lawn mown, the surface 
kept leveled and in good condition, and 
any monument or marker in good repair. 
Lots outside the Memorial Trust Fund 
are cared for by annual assessments, due 
in advance, May 1 of each year, and as 
long as assessments are paid there is no 
difference in care given. 
The amount of the assessment is com- 
puted at 3 per cent on the sum that would 
be necessary to deposit for perpetual care 
of the lot, except that no lot is assessed 
less than 75 cents. 
Lots on which assessments are not paid 
are mown annually twice a year, the 
money for the purpose taken from the 
General Expense Fund. 
A provision of the corporation law is 
that any surplus not needed for the care 
of a contributor’s lot may be expended 
upon ground reserved from sale, but not 
upon any other person’s lot. Many im- 
provements will be possible from time to 
time through the increase of this surplus. 
The moneys of the association are di- 
vided into three funds, designated as Me- 
morial Trust Fund, General Expense 
Fund, and Care Fund. The first has al- 
ready been explained. The second fund 
is reimbursed from the sale of lots and 
such profit as may come from foundation 
work, which work the association per- 
forms for the individual lot owners at a 
stipulated price. To the third fund, the 
Care or Working Fund, is transferred 
each year’s interest on the Cash Memorial 
Trust Fund, interest on memorial notes and 
assessments for annual care. From this 
fund is paid all labor for lawn mowing 
and otherwise improving lots thus pro- 
vided for. 
To obviate the danger of tangled busi- 
ness problems arising, a complete system 
of bookkeeping is demanded that shall 
show in black and white at all times the 
condition of financial affairs. This has 
been found indispensable in connection 
with the work of the association, and the 
books kept by both clerk and treasurer 
aim to be a complete record of all trans- 
actions and their inspection is invited. 
The annual meeting of stockholders is 
held on the second Monday in May. The 
ownership of a lot or right of burial en- 
titles the holder to one vote, which may 
be cast in person or by proxy. One vote 
is also granted upon lots owned by several 
heirs, subject to the same conditions. Dur- 
ing the past year ninety-five lots have 
been cared for and much work of a gen- 
eral nature has been done. 
An annual event for the past three years, 
when so much needed to be done, has been 
a “Work Day,” held about the last ,of 
May, before Memorial Day if weather con- 
dions permitted. 
On these days a goodly company assem- 
bled, armed with scythes, lawn mowers, 
rakes, spades, shovels, wheelbarrows and 
saws, and from morning until sundown the 
slogan was: “Work, for the Night is 
Coming !” 
At noon a bountiful pot-luck dinner was 
served by the ladies in an adjoining house 
which the owner kindly opened for the 
occasion. 
All of this work was freely given and 
resulted in a considerable amount remain- 
ing in the treasury to be expended in 
other improvements. 
The first Work Day was purely an ex- 
periment, though our dauntless Lady of 
Achievement did not doubt its success for 
one moment. There were many, however, 
who did, and it was amusing to see the 
half-hearted manner in which they en- 
tered upon the work changed to whole- 
souled enthusiasm as the day advanced. 
Indeed, to paraphrase a familiar quotation, 
“Those who came to scoff remained to 
work.” 
Members of the association are working 
at present for a chapel and receiving vault. 
Many are brought back to this cemetery 
who have no kin living in the village. If 
services are held at all, they must be in 
the church a half mile distant. Plans are 
already on foot for the realization of this 
dream of a chapel and the fulfillment will 
come, we doubt not, in the near future, for 
those interested are full of zeal and are 
working hard toward the goal. 
Indeed, “Hard Work” has been the 
watchword of the faithful. 
CLEANED UP AS A RESULT OF A CITIZENS' “WORK DAY" IN THE 
CEMETERY. 
