THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE VARIOUS CEMETERY CARETAKERS AND RECORD KEEPERS
PROVED TO BE MOST ENLIGHTENING ON PROBLEMS THAT OFTEN HAVE TO BE DEALT
WITH.

WE WISH TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING TIPS THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE CONCERNED,
ESPECIALLY LOT OWNERS IN THE OLDER SECTIONS.

1. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE RESPECTIVE CEMETERY SECRETARY.
AS A LOT OWNER OR FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE, YOU COULD PROVIDE 
WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR THE CARETAKERS TO DO NECESSARY WORK ON A LOT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES WHERE WELL TENDED PLANTINGS OF THE PAST HAVE
GONE UNATTENDED AND NOW ENCROACH OR OBSCURE HEASTONES. ROSE AND LILAC
BUSHES, AS WELL AS EVERGREEN TREES ARE THE MOST UNDESIRABLE.

2. WHEN PLANNING THE LANDSCAPING OF A LOT, CONSIDER THAT THE 
CEMETERIES IN ELLIS COUNTY ARE "PRAIRIE" CEMETERIES. GRASSES OTHER 
THAN NATIVE BUFFALO GRASS REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE.

3. CURBING AROUND A LOT IS SUBJECT TO MAJOR DAMAGE WHEN HEAVY 
EQUIPMENT IS TAKEN IN TO DIG GRAVE SITES,SET VAULTS OR PLACE 
STONES IN A NEARBY LOT. IN A FEW YEARS TIME CURBING WILL BE
UNEVEN AND POSSIBLY GROUND LEVEL BY ERROSION. A SURFACE LEVEL BORDER 
IS BETTER, BUT WILL BE GROWN OVER BY GRASS IN A YEAR OF TWO.

4. ROCK BEDS ARE A CARETAKERS NIGHTMARE. THESE PRETTY WHITE ROCKS
SEEM TO HAVE A WAY OF NOT STAYING WHERE THEY ARE PUT. WEEDS
LOVE TO GROW IN THESE AREAS WHERE A MOWER CANNOT GO.

5. WHEN CONSIDERING A CHOICE OF HEADSTONES, TAKE NOTE OF THE SIZE
AND LOCATION OF YOUR LOT. IS THERE SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR A LARGE
STONE? LARGE STONES OFTEN HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR 
THE LARGE EQUIPMENT TO GET IN. 
CONSIDER THE DEPTH OF THE LETTERING WHEN ORDERING A STONE. MANY
STONES THAT WERE CUT IN THE EARLY 1900'S ARE OFTEN EASIER TO 
READ THAN NEW STONES.

6. WATER FROM SPRINKLERS DAMAGE HEADSTONES. RAIN WATER, WIND AND 
SAND DO ENOUGH DAMAGE. SEVERAL OF THE CEMETERIES HAVE WATER
HYDRANTS AVAILABLE. THESE WERE INITIALLY INSTALLED FOR
CONVENIENCE ON MEMORIAL DAY AND OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN WATER 
IS NEEDED.
 
 
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
CONTACT THE RESPECTIVE SECRETARY OF THE CEMETERY OR THE ELLIS 
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION
ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LOT FOR EASIER MAINTENANCE.