Halifax Vermont Cemetery Restoration Team

10/16/2025

We had a small cold but mighty crew today fixing and straightening 5-6 big and small headstones at Stafford cemetery in Halifax vt. This is another cemetery that needs a lot of care and attention. Thanks to all who helped out today.

10/13/2025

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08/28/2025

We had a great couple weekends at Bascom cemetery. This old cemetery (1775 oldest stone) still has more work to do to get several stones straightened but in these two days over 35 head stones were cleaned and had the biologic cleaner D2 applied. There are lots of marble stones that should start looking much brighter in the next few weeks as the stuff starts to work it’s magic. There were two 6’ heavy marble stones on the stone wall for some reason that needed to get planted to protect them from the surrounding trees. One was placed next to his wife’s stone and the other was placed in the family plot with the same surnamed stones. We had many volunteers the first Saturday who worked tirelessly that morning and had lunch prepared at the community hall “Cafe” afterwords. Kudos to all that showed up for the cause.
6 headstones were straightened the first Saturday and four more returned to their proper spots and repaired this past Sunday. Those were the heavy ones where we needed the live bodies and muscle.
Again, we the commissioners and the members of the Halifax cemetery restoration team want to thank all the volunteers for their efforts.

08/22/2025

Hi All! We are once again going to Bascom cemetery to get a few more stones cleaned and straightened. We need a few strong backs to get one of the large headstones off the wall and stood up in the nearby ground. I will have my little tractor to assist moving it around but it will be a tricky maneuver.
We are planning to start around 9am on Sunday the 24th of August.
Please let me know if you are interested in giving us a hand.
Thanks
Gary

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08/18/2025

We had a great day at Bascom cemetery with a lot help from the locals! We cleaned 29 headstones and straightened 6 big leaning headstones. I took a before picture but forgot to take an after pic. We will be going back there soon to clean the last 8 headstones and maybe straighten a couple while we are there.
A new "after" picture will follow as well.

The Halifax cemetery commissioners and the Halifax Cemetery Restoration Team want to thank all who participated in this rewarding adventure.

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08/11/2025

The Halifax Vermont Cemetery Restoration Team and The Halifax Cemetery commissioners will be hosting a work day on Saturday August 16th at the Bascom Cemetery on Collins Rd in West Halifax. We will be cleaning up this one of 23 town cemeteries as well as straightening and repairing several very old headstones. We will be starting at 8 Am and go to around noon.
There is a lot of work to do and holes to fill to get this cemetery looking good again after decades of minimal attention given to this inactive old town cemetery.
There will be some tools like shovels, rakes, picks prybars and other tools for cleaning and repair. If you have some time and can bring a tool or two or a bucket for cleaning it would be AWESOME if you can make it there on Saturday the 16th.
We will have drinks and snacks available to all workers young and old.
The cemetery is located across from the Old Hanora Winery on private property and near the VAST trail. I will have a couple signs on the road and it is a short walk to the cemetery.
The more helpers, the quicker the work will get done.
Please Share if you think anyone else would be interested in preserving the History of Halifax Vermont.
Please contact me (Gary Rand) at 802-368-7157 for additional information or directions.
We are also part of VOCA (The Vermont Old Cemetery Association) if anyone from that group wants to stay closer to the southern part of the state and help us out. This is not a scheduled VOCA event this year and will make plans as well for the summer of 2026 to get a VOCA group together for a work/ cleaning day.

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05/30/2025

During an interment in Niles cemetery, there was a lot of ground damage surrounding the burial site because of the abundance of wet ground in the area. Part of the Halifax Vermont Cemetery regulations is to repair any damage made with machinery or activity. The company assured us the damage in that area will be repaired as soon as they can get back in there to do so.
As damaged as the area is now, it will be fixed soon.

05/02/2025

The Guilford VOCA work day event has been postponed to June 7th 2025, 9AM at The Ellsworth Cemetery on Route 5. We hope to see you there so support our neighbors.

Back in Halifax, the cemetery season has begun with some activity at Niles Cemetery today.
We hope to get in 1 or 2 work days a week at different cemeteries with local volunteers any anyone in VOCA who would like to travel south for a day.

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03/21/2025

Hello all,
The Guilford cemetery commissioners will be hosting a Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) work day at the Ellsworth cemetery on Route 5 in Guilford on Saturday May 31 starting at 9 am. It will be a few hours of fun in the cemetery repairing, straightening and cleaning the headstones under the expert tutelage of Charlie Marchant.
Several volunteers from Guilford attended our VOCA workday at the Stacy Hatch cemetery last year. We loved having them in Halifax and will enjoy the chance to give them a hand.
There will be lunch served around noon at the end of the work day.
You can pm or call me if you have any questions.
Thanks in advance!
Gary Rand

01/22/2025

The Halifax cemetery commission is having the Pennell Hill cemetery cleared to its full capacity. It will double the size in use at the moment.

11/23/2024

The Halifax cemetery commission removed all the veterans flags and picked up all the plastic and silk flowers from all the cemeteries. The cemeteries will close for the season December 1, 2024. Any items remaining must be in good condition and next to the headstone or they can be removed and discarded. Please give us a hand and check out your family plots. Call or PM me/us anytime you have or need any questions answered.
Happy Holidays