Updates:
Board Member Passes: Crayford Hatlee, a Jonesville Cemetery Board member for over 20 years, was interred in the cemetery on July 21, 2008. A recently retired English teacher in the Saratoga Springs High School and an active member of the Jonesville Methodist Church, Cray volunteered his energy, talent, and good humor to working with the Boy Scouts and to improving the cemetery. Board members mourn his passing and fondly remember his contributions to the Board's efforts to maintain and to enhance the beauty and peace of the cemetery.
Bell Fundraiser Begins: With the approval of the bell for the cemetery, the Association begins its fundraiser to seek $10,000 to fund the bell ringing mechanism, monuments and plaques. Please join in this historic event by sending your tax-deductible donation to the Jonesville Cemetery Project Fund, 28 Beechwood Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065. We appreciate whatever you can contribute to this fund.
Storm Damage on June 10: During a windy storm, one of our magnificent trees was affected. A section of the tree split off and fell on the Van Patten monument, as well as some others. We are most upset by the damage to the VP monument caused by the storm. The tree, along with 20 others, was trimmed last summer of all dead branches. There was no indication that the tree would be so affected by a storm. We advise all property owners to consult their insurance agents to see if their homeowner's policy covers damage to their monuments, as we know some do.
Cemetery Rates: Effective May 30,2008, the rates for cemetery property changed. The charge for single cremation graves range from $400 - $700; the charge for single graves range from $900 - $1500 each. These charges were increased based on the amount of remaining space in the cemetery. Further rate adjustments may be made.
New Cemetery Tours: Jonesville Cemetery Association offers an hour tour of the cemetery entitled How to View the Jonesville Cemetery. Learn techniques of how to see the hidden things in the cemetery, visit the sites of the Father of Clifton Park and the Father of Jonesville, the third entranceway into the cemetery, the large site with only one stone, and more . Cost is $5 per person, minimum number in party is 4 - 5. Go to our Contact Us page and send us an email with your name and telephone number; we will work out a convenient time for the tour. [Comments from Recent Participants in Tour: "Informative, entertaining"; "loved it -- would love to attend another in the rest of the cemetery."]
Tours for Young People: If you have a Scout group or school group interested in a 45 - minute tour of the cemetery for young people, please go to our Contact page and send an email to us. Students should be in 3rd grade or higher. Group size is limited to 20 - 25 with several adult chaperones.
Jonesville Featured Second Time in Broadcaster Newsletter (NYS Association of Cemeteries, Summer, 2006 and Fall, 2007): Two articles written by Ed Hughes, Vice President of JCA, appeared in issues of the Broadcaster newsletter sent to over 100 member cemeteries in NYS. The titles were "Jonesville Cemetery Keeps in Touch with Lot Owners to Buy a New Fence" and "Celebration Ceremony of the Lives of Our Departed Children."
Artificial Flowers: Owners are encouraged to remove faded artificial flowers and replace them, yearly, if desired.
Vegetation at Markers: Owners are reminded that vegetation which goes over on a neighbor's lot or which obscures the writing on the stone must be cut back. Cemetery personnel will cut back such vegetation on old cemetery lots whose owners are no longer known or locatable.
Marker Requirement: The Association has established a new regulation concerning the placement of a permanent marker on cemetery lots. The requirement is a permanent marker (granite or other acceptable stone) must be erected on the lot one year after the first interment on a lot. The temporary marker placed at the time of interment may not be used as a permanent marker.
Newsletter
Jonesville's newsletter (Keeping in Touch) was introduced in January, 2006 (normal publication in March and October) and mailed to all Friends of the Cemetery who have contributed to the cemetery through the Fund Drive or at other times. The newsletter will contain information on the history of the cemetery, on changes, and on opportunities for volunteers to assist the Board of Directors in enhancing the dignity and appearance of the cemetery.
Rules and Regulations: New 2008 rules are in italics.
All lots in the Jonesville Cemetery are sold in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of New York and shall not be used for any other purposes that as a burial place for deceased human beings.
To maintain the dignity and character of the Jonesville Cemetery, a set of rules and regulations have been developed for all who select this resting place.
Open from sunrise to sunset.
Plantings/Decorations
- Flowers and tasteful decorations may be placed on lots. Please remove faded, artificial flowers yearly.
- Plantings shall be no more than 15" from the stone.
- No plantings in back of stone unless you own the lot in back of the stone.
- Trees: Memorial trees may be donated and will be planted at the discretion of the superintendent.
- Owners are responsible for yearly trimming (by August 1) of their shrubs.
- Existing shrubs intruding on a neighboring lot or which are in the way of future interments or which are unsightly may be cut back or removed at the discretion of the superintendent, after due notice to the lot owner.
- The Jonesville Cemetery Association reserves the right to remove, after due notice to the lot owner, any embellishment on the lot, effigy or inscription which, in the opinion of the majority of the trustees or directors, is unsightly or dangerous.
Restrictions on Lots
- No glass, ceramic or earthenware vases/containers of any kind are allowed. Please use plastic or metal containers.
- No crushed stone, brick chips, marble chips, etc.
- No fences/retaining walls are permitted without prior approval of the superintendent.
Operations of Cemetery
- Hours of operation are from sunrise to sunset.
- Christmas decorations shall be removed by March 31.
- Spring cleanup will commence April 1. Owners are asked to remove artificial flowers and other decorations to assist in the clean up.The Association assumes no responsibility for these flowers/decorations.
Monuments
- Sizes: Monuments on cemetery lots must not exceed the following measurements: single grave lot (32"), double grave lot (42"), triple grave lot (52"), and four grave lot (62"). A flat, ground level plaque for a cremation lot may be no more than 12" by 24".
- The height of monuments must be consistent in appearance with others in the cemetery; specifically, a monument including base may be no taller than 3 feet on a single lot, and no taller than 4 feet on other lots. A sketch with dimensions must be submitted to the Superintendent before the approval of the stone. Monuments on large lots must first be approved in writing by the committee of Superintendence before the monument is ordered. Failure to comply with these size rules will result in denial of the placement of the monument or removal at the owner's expense.
- A lot that has a monument at the top of the lot may not have footstones or hickey markers at the foot of the grave. All monuments/headstones must be placed at the top of the lot.
- Monument foundations: Foundations for monuments shall be supplied by the Association as per the fee schedule and installed
by the cemetery.
- Beginning in 2005, corner markers are required on all newly-purchased cemetery property.
- Property owners are required to place a permanent marker on their property when the first interment has occurred. The metal temporary markers may not be used as permanent markers.No monuments or markers shall be permitted which utilize colors other than those of natural stone
Vehicles and Other Restrictions
-Speed Limit: 5 MPH
-Vehicles to stay on roadways.
-No snowmobiles, ATVs, skateboarding
-No dog walking allowed.
Additional Rules
All lots in the Jonesville Cemetery are sold in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of New York and shall not be used for any other purposes that as a burial place for deceased human beings.
No interment shall be allowed without permission being first obtained from the Jonesville Cemetery Association (JCA). All interments will be provided by the JCA. At the time of applying for permission, the following information must be furnished: (1) name of deceased; (2) age of deceased, including date of birth, if known; (3) place of birth of deceased, if known; (4) date of death: (5) time and date of interment; (6) if not an adult, the names of parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of deceased.
Permanent Maintenance: The term "permanent maintenance" refers only to the cutting of grass throughout the cemetery and around markers/monuments except where items (flower pots, etc.) placed by the owner or others prohibit mowing.
Lot owners are prohibited from allowing interments to be made on their lots for compensation.
Interments in a lot are restricted to those entitled to burial therein according to the terms of Section 1512 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. Permission for burial of those not entitled to burial according to the said Section, must be filed with the JCA by the low owner(s).
Responsibility Concerning Interments: The Association shall not be responsible for any interment or instructions concerning an interment given by telephone or any mistake occurring due to lack of proper instructions from lot owners, their legal representatives or funeral directors acting on behalf of the owner or his/her heirs as to the particular grave location where an interment is to be made. The Association reserves the right to make an equitable charge whenever additional labor costs result from such a mistake. Before a grave is prepared by the Association, a member of the family of the deceased or his/her legal representative must come to the cemetery to point to the burial spot on a multi-grave lot (more than 2 graves) and note the location on a written layout plan kept by the family and the cemetery; if a layout plan does not exist, the Association will request one on a regular basis until such plan is prepared and presented to the Association. The family member or legal representative must sign a document indicating the approval of the location of the burial.
Layout Plan on Multi-grave Lots: Owners of a multi-grave lot (more than 2 graves) must complete and submit to the Association within two months from the date of sale (indicated on the deed) a preliminary layout plan provided by the Association to indicate who is to be interred in each grave.
Except as provided for in Section 1513 ( c ) of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, no lot owner may transfer his or her lot.
The full purchase price must be paid before a deed will be given or burial allowed on the lot.
Funerals must be at the cemetery by 4 p.m. in order that the workmen will have sufficient time to properly close the grave and remove equipment before 6 p.m.
All funerals, processions and vehicles will be under the control of the superintendent while in the cemetery.
All work done in the cemetery shall be done by cemetery employees or under the control or with the permission of the superintendent or board of directors.
Only one monument shall be allowed on a lot and it shall be set in accordance with the general plan of the cemetery and shall conform with said plan in size and material. Individual headstones may be used.
The bases of all monuments shall be finished true and level so as to fit on foundations without wedging or sprawls. Every monument shall be at least 8 inches in thickness.
No monument will be allowed to be delivered in the cemetery until the foundation is installed and ready to receive the monument, unless otherwise permission granted by cemetery superintendent.
Heavy trucking or other vehicle traffic shall be refused entrance to the cemetery when, in the opinion of the superintendent, injury of roads and driveways might result.
All monuments or markers must be constructed of granite or bronze or marble to match lot.
Disinterments will be allowed between April 1 and November 30 provided there is compliance with all provisions of Section 1510 ( e ) of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.
Interments on Sundays and Holidays may occur with the approval of the JCA and at an additional charge.
Graves will not be opened between December to April when frost and weather conditions warrant such refusal. Bodies during this period will be placed in a legal vault until Spring.
Cremated remains will not be permitted to be scattered in any part of the cemetery.
Concrete vaults or concrete grave liners will be required for interments in all graves in accordance with the provisions of Cemetery Board Directive 201.6.
The interment of cremated remains will be permitted only in appropriate rigid receptacles such as wood, metal, plastic or concrete.
The number of human remains and/or cremated remains will be determined, following Jonesville Cemetery Burial options, at the time of the purchase of the burial lot, unless a later written request is approved by the JCA Board.
The Association reserves the right to remove faded artificial flowers or any plantings or decorations it deems inappropriate or improperly placed, to change these rules and regulations without prior notice, and to close the cemetery temporarily during funerals or when cemetery roads are impassable.These rules and regulations may be amended by the directors of the Jonesville Cemetery Association, but no such amendments shall be effective until approved by the New York State Cemetery Board. (Revised 1/08)
