DUKE CENTER — At Thursday night’s meeting, the Otto Township Cemetery Association officers and a handful of residents were joined by Joel Gilfert, caretaker of Eldred’s Oak Hill Cemetery and local historian/genealogist.
Gilfert offered assistance in researching, mapping and other aspects necessary to get both the Duke Center and Rixford cemeteries accurate and up-to-date. In addition to his offer to help the association, he presented an interesting case of a former Otto Township resident who was killed in the line of duty while serving on the city of Buffalo’s police force. Russell Greeley was directing traffic in downtown Buffalo in 1932 when he was mortally wounded by gunfire. His body was brought home to Duke Center with the usual respect and fanfare accorded a fallen officer. His body was laid to rest beside that of his father, whose grave is plainly marked with a headstone. Gilfert’s interest in this stems from the fact that, as far as anyone knows, there has never been a marker of any kind for the fallen officer. Gilfert is currently researching archives and historical records with the intent of verifying Greeley’s burial lot and properly placing a marker where indeed one belongs.
Caretaker Cody Stone reported that some miscreants are disrespecting the Rixford cemetery by using the cemetery driveway as an ATV trail. This is doubly disturbing since a well-used trail parallels the cemetery driveway and the riders choose instead to use the newly-graded cemetery drive. Also, the recently placed garbage receptacles were stolen, with the perpetrators first dumping the contents on the ground. The association approved Stone’s purchasing two trail cameras and erecting barriers and posting notices.
A walk-thru and clean-up/work session will be held this morning at 9 a.m. at the Duke Center cemetery. The public is welcome to participate, for a history lesson or to help with the maintenance. A recent work session at Rixford was well attended, with several trees trimmed and removed. The township crew will assist in felling and removing the one large, dead spruce when they have the manpower and the time. They will also schedule a time to remove the large trees in the Duke Center property.
The association is still seeking legal counsel to assist in their legal organization and recognition. Mapping of both sites is arduous and time-consuming, but with available software and the assistance of Gilfert and knowledgeable localites, the association is making headway. Erecting signs at both cemeteries is also on the association’s to-do list. Anyone who is willing and able to help with this endeavor or wishes to donate to defray the cost is to contact any of the association’s members. They are most easily reached via their Facebook page or by phoning 558-7666.
