Local People
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 19:16
By Paul Chasko
Boy Scout Luke Baldesburger is an Eagle Scout candidate with Scout Troop 1452 of Finleyville. As his Eagle Project he has been approved to take the leading role in cleaning up St. Francis Cemetery Just outside of Gastonville off Stone Church Road.
Boy Scout Luke Baldesburger is an Eagle Scout candidate with Scout Troop 1452 of Finleyville. As his Eagle Project he has been approved to take the leading role in cleaning up St. Francis Cemetery Just outside of Gastonville off Stone Church Road.
 Ron Broglie runs his tractor and brush
hog through the shrubbery. |
There are sure to be many folks reading this that probably aren’t aware that St. Francis Church has a Cemetery. Here’s a bit of history.
Prior to 1907, St. Francis of Assisi Church was located on Stone Church Road Just outside of Gastonville. The Parish purchased property across the road from the church for a cemetery. This Church was severely damaged by fire and the parish moved into their new church on Washington Avenue in Finleyville also in 1907 – the cemetery, of course remained in its original location. It is marked by a small sign on Stone Church Road. The Cemetery has limited space and no longer provides new gravesites. Over the years, sad to say, the battle between encroachment of vegetation and maintenance was being lost. Recently Father Boyle requested that the Knights of Columbus do a major cleanup of the St. Francis Cemetery grounds. Through the efforts of Grand Knight/Scout Leader Frank Kovscek, Scout Luke Baldesburger was given the opportunity to take the lead in the cleanup as his Eagle Scout Project.
Prior to 1907, St. Francis of Assisi Church was located on Stone Church Road Just outside of Gastonville. The Parish purchased property across the road from the church for a cemetery. This Church was severely damaged by fire and the parish moved into their new church on Washington Avenue in Finleyville also in 1907 – the cemetery, of course remained in its original location. It is marked by a small sign on Stone Church Road. The Cemetery has limited space and no longer provides new gravesites. Over the years, sad to say, the battle between encroachment of vegetation and maintenance was being lost. Recently Father Boyle requested that the Knights of Columbus do a major cleanup of the St. Francis Cemetery grounds. Through the efforts of Grand Knight/Scout Leader Frank Kovscek, Scout Luke Baldesburger was given the opportunity to take the lead in the cleanup as his Eagle Scout Project.
 The work crew pose for a quick photo!
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The work began on Saturday April 20 and will likely continue for several more weekends. Luke is receiving assistance from his fellow scouts, members of the Knights of Columbus Council 13832 (St. Francis Church) and Several St. Francis Parishioners operating chain saws and heavy equipment. Ron Broglie showed up with his tractor equipped with a hydraulic front–loader and brush hog that saved a lot of back-breaking work. Many old graves that had limited access due to the encroachment of trees and shrubbery were made accessible and several large dead or dying trees were cut down and removed. More work remains. Luke chose a pretty tough Eagle Scout Project.
