photo by Stanley Kober
February 21,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho Ho Kus NJ, an Eagle Scout is working on a Revitalization of the “Old Burying Ground” in Ho-Ho-Kus . The site is an area up by the train station near First Street and if you look down onto the large municipal parking lot on the right is the cemetery.
The Scout Alexander Melarti has done a nice job there and these last couple of items are putting a nice touch to his work to honor the families of the deceased.
From the go fund me page https://www.gofundme.com/eagle-scout-proj-for-cemetery :
Eagle Scout Revitalization Project of “The Old Burying Ground”
Prepared by Alexander Melarti (Eagle Scout – Troop 7)
And
Stanley A. Kober (Historic Ho-Ho-Kus Researcher)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Eagle Scout candidate’s full legal name: ALEXANDER MELARTI
Eagle Scout Service Project Name: REVITALIZING OF “THE OLD BURYING GROUND”
“The project will take place on First street in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. There is a 200 year old cemetery where some of the Hopper and Zabriskie families are buried; the families were the first inhabitants of Ho-Ho-Kus, and a member of the Zabriskie’s built what is now called the Ho-Ho-Kus inn and tavern. The last time any proper care was given to the cemetery was in 2006. The shrubs that were planted behind the headstones have become overgrown, and fall over the graves. Weeds, leaves, and dead thicket cover most of the floor of the plot, and the tarp under the gravel path leading up from the parking lot is in disarray. There is also a slope on one side of the cemetery where erosion has created a side entrance to the lot.
“This project has 4 steps. The first is to fundraise for the materials and supplies needed. The Second Step is to clean out all the debris, and trim the shrubs hanging over the grave. The third step is to add stones to the eroded side entrance in an attempt to terrace the dirt. The gravel path will be redone, and wood chips will be laid down in the fenced in section of the lot to further prevent erosion. The last step is to repair and repaint the fence posts surrounding the lot. In addition there will be a bench, an interpretive panel outside the fenced in area, and some evergreen plantings inside the lot.
“The interpretive panel will contain a brief history of the cemetery’s occupants and the role they played in the town’s history It will be placed on the perimeter of the fence where it meets the gravel path. [added recently is the installation of a QR code on the plaque that will be linked to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus Master Plan].
“The Bench will match the style of the other outdoor benches of the town; the bench is made of steel and extruded aluminum with a heat fused poly-vinyl coating. It will be placed parallel to the pathway, and two feet from the fence.” [Excerpted from Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook by Alexander Melarti dated 10/23/17]
The funds to be raised will cover the purchase of the Park Bench, the Interpretive Panel, shrubbery, and other assorted materials to make the historic family cemetery a place of honor for the families interred there. Some of the items are in the process of being ordered and it would be very beneficial for the funds to be received as soon as possible.
We are extremely grateful for whatever anyone may donate for this worthwhile Eagle Scout Project honoring these families.
LOCATION: The area up by the Ho-Ho-Kus train station is First Street and if you look down onto the large municipal parking lot, on your right is the cemetery. The young Scout has done a nice job there and these last couple of items are putting a nice touch to his work to honor the families of the deceased. Click on this link and it will take you to the site. https://goo.gl/maps/PDZha5kbGhr
click here to donate https://www.gofundme.com/eagle-scout-proj-for-cemetery
