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From: "Dan Harris" <>
Subject: Westernport-Philos Cemetery Grave Validation - 20+21 April
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 15:40:24 -0800

All,

I need help with validating the Philos Ave Cemetery in Westernport (Allegany). I estimate 7-10,000 graves. I never did locate the WPA listing. Good news -- we will be working from a (primarily) 25-yr old listing. I have already invested 16-ish hours working on this cemetery -- consolidating lists, editing, formatting and some validating. I am about 10% done. To complete the effort, I estimate it will take 60-80 hr to validate the remainder of the cemetery, and another 60-80 to consolidate, edit and compile the final list. I need help with the validation -- I need your hours. Here are the particulars:

Planning
- 10:00 to afternoon on 20 and 21 Apr (if not done).
- Directions -- From Rt 135, take old Rt 36 (Main St) (not new Rt 36 by the Legion). Go 1/4 mile. Turn up the hill at First Baptist Church. Go 1/4 mile to the Cemetery.
- Meet at the white cemetery building on Philos Ave at 10:00. There is street parking there.
- If you can donate 2hr, 4hr, 8 hr, 10hr, whatever -- will be greatly appreciated.
- Connie will bring sunshine, warmth and slight breeze.
- Will work in 2 person teams, so bring a friend -- or group of friends.
- I need to know who is coming, take names, build email list, send files, etc - send me an email direct if you commit to helping -- -- Please tell me your name, phone, address and email address. I need to know by 16 Apr for planning and copying services.
- For the persons I get emails from, I can send copies of the 'in-work' listing to participants to print local. Print in large enough size you can read.
- You will need to bring your listing to work on (I will bring some extra copies), 2-4 pens/pencils, water, sun screen and hat.
- Establish graveyard sections. I did a crude drawing. Looks like the graveyard is layed out, South to North, parallel, roads parallel, walks parallel, curbs/divisions are parallel. Section widths look like 5-7 stones wide.

Beginning (10:00/20 Apr)
- Everyone sign the sign-up sheet.
- I will brief the group.
- I will describe how to validate, list additions, make corrections, and add grave associations -- such that transcribers get common edits -- PRINT clearly, no cursive!!!.
- Set 2 person teams -- one keep the paper/notes, the other read the stones. (I spent a lot of time flipping through pages and 2 person teams would probably be better).
- assign graveyard sections.

Read Stones
- Go to graveyard sections and validate stones, South to North.
- some groups will finish sections faster than others, so we will move to the unfinished sections and help (start at the North end and work to the middle).

End
- I will collect the listings for later transcription.
- Consolidate entries.

Later
- Copy sets.
- Transcribe.
- Consolidate files.
- Clean-up.
- Send the final version to all particpants and find a place to post for all to view.

Other.
- I will not answer questions about the current work, nor send the 'in-work' listing at this time. -- So, don't ask -- I work long days, and still have to do taxes.
- The final product will be public information, owned by the participants, and will not be copyrighted or used for financial gain.
- I don't know the boundaries between the sections -- Waldon, Love, Friendship, etc. Need someone who knows where sections begin and end. So, if someone knows, please tell me or be there.
- I will see if I can bring my family to help or some of my local family (additional teams). The more teams, the faster the validation. If we don't finish Saturday, I will be back Sunday. So, please pass the word and solicit help.
- Rain Date -- If it is raining Saturday morning, we will try again on Sunday morning (go to early service at church...). Still raining on Sunday? -- we will re-group and try again on another weekend in May.
- Special thanks to Connie, Jack Fazenbaker, Ed Twigg, Richard and Mary Metz, and my family for the assistance already provided.
- I hope we can publish by Memorial Day.

Again, I need your help. Please let me know by email, be there and bring a couple more people with you.

Dan Harris

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• Westernport-Philos Cemetery Grave Validation - 20+21 April by "Dan Harris" <>