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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners recently approved two proclamations, naming April as "Grange Month" and "Bellefonte Union Cemetery Month" in the county, to highlight the work of these organizations locally.
Commissioners proclaimed April 2024, as Bellefonte Union Cemetery Month in Centre County, in hopes of raising awareness about the local cemetery's financial woes and volunteer-led revitalization.
"It's a historic cemetery with many notable figures from Bellefonte and Pennsylvania at large buried in the cemetery. It is 100% volunteer driven and runs off of donations and grants," said Tom Kellander, the vice president of the Bellefonte Cemetery Association.
Interred there are former Pennsylvania governors, founders of Penn State, Pennsylvania's first female architect, American Revolutionary War veterans and Medal of Honor recipients, among thousands of others.
The goal is to potentially attract donors and volunteers to support the Bellefonte Union Cemetery's continued operation.
"We have a lot of broken stones, many different physical obstacles to maintaining the cemetery, so any awareness we can bring to that we are thankful for," said Kellander.
The Perpetual Care Fund that was paid in for many of the stones was completely depleted several years ago. Because the site does not meet certain qualifications, the cemetery cannot benefit from most programs designed to maintain historic cemeteries.
"We are still an active cemetery, so we do somewhere between six and 10 burials each year, and because of that, we're not able to be qualified as a historic cemetery due to our continual operation," he said.
The nearly 22-acre cemetery situated between Howard Street and High Street in Bellefonte has just shy of 10,000 headstones that need to be maintained.
"It makes it difficult for us to keep operating as we are," said Kellander
During the summer, the Bellefonte Cemetery Association (BCA) schedules one Saturday a month as a community work day.
"It would be nice if we could get more of the community out there to help us to make Union Cemetery as beautiful as Bellefonte is," said BCA board member Brenda Reichert.
The BCA is seeking volunteers of all ages and abilites to participate in helping maintain the grounds. Volunteers help with tasks including mowing, trimming foliage, planting flowers and cleaning and unearthing headstones.
Those who wish to donate may do so at bellefonteunioncemetery.com/donate.
"You are doing an amazing job out there with the resources you have, and this is an opportunity for us to raise awareness for the community to come out and help you, with not only sweat equity, but also with real dollars," said Commissioner Steven Dersham.
"Historically and culturally it is a big part of who we are in the Bellefonte area," he continued.
Commissioners also proclaimed April as "Grange Month" to raise awareness of the work local Granges do to support agricultural communities around the county.
"Centre County Pomona Grange is celebrating 150 years this year. It was started as, and still is, a grassroot organization founded in rural living, agriculture and community service," said Lisa Butler, 1st vice president of the Centre County Grange Fair.
"We like to give back and we like to advocate for rural America," said Butler. The Grange has long advocated for policies benefiting agricultural communities like rural mail delivery. Today, the Grange's focus is on expanding broadband internet access to remote areas.
"Grange routinely claims April as its month, and we are all delighted you are all helping us celebrate this organization," said Centre Hall Mayor LeDon Young.
Across the county, the organization boasts approximately 700 members, including Commissioners Steven Dersham and Mark Higgins. This year, the Centre County Pomona Grange, and many of the 12 subordinate local Granges throughout the county, are celebrating their 150th birthday.
Centre County Pomona Grange is best known for hosting the Grange Fair in Centre Hall which features nine days of food, entertainment, animal shows and agricultural programs. During those nine days, Centre Hall becomes the third largest municipality in Centre County by population.
"We started in Centre County in 1874. Centre County was only 74 years old when there was the first picnic. The picnic grew as did Centre County," said Young.
Young promised excellent entertainment at this August's fair, hinting at a potential rodeo and antique tractor show. Mention was also made of a documentary being made about the Grange Fair for its 150 year anniversary.