Bringing the Cemetery Back to Life

Now that I have the ability of riding up to Browns whenever I want. I have been working on my project to save the cemetery and bring it back to life. Here is John Smith.

And here is John Brown.

 Set up some flower boxes.

Along with some bunting and ribbons on posts.

 Lots of grass to cut, weeds to pull along with tons of birch and oak saplings trying to take over the place.

I would like to take the time out to thank a few people who - without their help - this project wouldn't have been able to get off the ground: Roger and Kelly Edwards, Elaine Adams and Joann Mock. Thank you really doesn't even cover how grateful I am to all of them - they have helped my vision of restoring this cemetery come true.

All that is left to do - is keep up on the grass cutting and weed whacking. We also found more graves underneath all the weeds and saplings.

The cemetery hasn't looked this good in years...

I also put up a flag - I just hope that the party crowd leaves everything alone and respects the fact that this is indeed a cemetery and not a place to party.

 Old Glory standing guard over Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Browns Farm - Early Spring

Nothing beats Browns in the early Spring. This is not a crick - but the road heading to the farm. It's wet because years ago - in order to try to protect the site - old Nick (One Eye - "how you doing there") Fratrick who was married to one of Elmer's daughters - popped alot of the springs along the way. This road is always wet - even when we have dry summers.

Location of where the log cabin was.

Heading towards the cemetery and pond.

Looking back towards the cabin area. Those big pines were planted by the state as a wind breaker.

Remnants of Harshberger's Grove - old Lizzie's beauitful apple trees.

The pond where all the Morrellville boys used to spend their summers. Elmer and wife Annie (Bowser) always had a very welcoming home.

Road along side the pond - leading to the other side of the farm.

Looking back towards the log cabin and springhouse area.

And another shot of the same general area.

Looking towards the cemetery - with the wooden fence we helped the state with last year when we did a survey of the cemetery. I'd like to eventually - when I get a couple of extra bucks - to get a proper plaque to put up there - so that the kids that go up there to drink and party realize that they are indeed on sacred ground - not party central.

The grave of poor old John Smith - he was sort of on the slow side - not sure if he was born that way - or suffered some type of injury in the Civil War. And his wife Maria (Mariah Dorman) Smith did not help matters - she had her fair share of trouble with the law - she was known as a very friendly girl....

And here is the grave of John Brown - Elmer's dad - John was not the nicest of people nor the most responsible - now a days - he would have been considered a dead beat dad. When he did work - he was a barber - but he spent most of his time - getting in and out of trouble.

Another shot of the cemetery from the opposite side.

Just past the pond road and heading towards the other side of the farm.

Another shot from the same area.

Heading towards the middle of the area.

Years ago - I found this cast iron wheel laying on the ground and propped it against this tree.

That's my 7 year old nephew - and this is his first trip up to the mountain.

Heading up the hill towards the top of the site. I said outloud when we got there - "Browns meet RJ and RJ meet the Browns".

If you go left - up to the top - if you go right - heading back to the log cabin area.

Heading up towards the Dry Hollow Area.

But first one of the large Native American (cairn) rock mounds up there.

The cairn was built with a hollow.

A smaller (cairn) rock mound next to it.

This is the top of the Cambria/Westmoreland County Line - to your left is the Dry Hollow Area.

Walking this old road to go to back down towards Browns - I always find Native American nutting stones - they are just laying all around - when we passed this way - I spotted a small one - all you have to do - is simply look down - didn't say anything to RJ - didn't he see it and pick it up - which pleases me to no end - because I now know that he also has an eye for these kind of things. Down below by the farm - I kicked up a small arrowhead - which was very cool - since I don't usually go looking for these things.

Top - left goes to New Florence - Route 711 - straight - towards where some of the George Gates family lived and to the right - back down to Browns.

This large puddle is a big frog area in the Spring and early Summer.

Old dirt road heading back down.

RJ taking in the scenery.

Even though it's hard to tell from this shot - in person you can see parts of Johnstown off in the distance. In the old days - since most of the area was clear-cut you could see even more. To help you get your barings - the log cabin would have been right behind that clump of pines.

Browns Farm - From High Above

Browns from high above - this shows just one section of the 1200 acre site.

The Three Sisters - Lizzie's Orchard

These are just about the only apple trees left from what was once a large orchard up at Browns. I call them - The Three Sisters - I don't know why, I just do. I tried last year to grow a seedling from a couple of the apples. Non of them took.. So this year, I am going try grafting. These apple tree are at least 100 years old if not older.

Summer at the Brown Farm

A rare trip to Laurel Hill Settlement in the middle of summer. Headed up - to geocache and get apples from what's left of the old 150 year old orchard.

I have to say - it's beautiful with all the lush green of summer - but rather uncomfortable with all the muggy weather and bugs - which must have been even worse 200 years ago - with all the livestock.

Heading over towards the cemetery and what's left of the orchard. This shot shows where the old cabin used to be.

This is one of the three apple tree's left - this grand old lady of the forest has a charm and a history all its own.

It's hard to tell from this photo - but what you are looking at is the cemetery full of weeds and tall grass.

I call these apple trees - the three sisters.

Pennsylvania Grand Review - Honoring USCT - John E. Smith

African American Patriots and the Civil War. Imagine my surprise when a reader from Montana, George M.  brought to my attention that John E. Smith from Laurel Hill Settlement/Browns Farm is mentioned in the current issue of American Heritage. For more on the life of this one soldier from the Laurel Highlands click 3rd-usct-john-e-smith-laurel-hill

The Pennsylvania Grand Review will serve as a commemoration of the November 1865 event of the same name organized by the women of Harrisburg to honor the United States Colored Troops who were not permitted to participate in the Grand Review of the Armies, a military procession and celebration held May 23-24, 1865 in Washington, D.C., following the end of the Civil War.

The Grand Review will include exhibition, presentation, and conservation projects that will reveal the hidden histories of the USCT. This commemoration will culminate November in Harrisburg.

For information can be found on the official website:

http://www.visitpa.com/trip-ideas/pennsylvania-grand-review/index.aspx