REYNOLDS RESTORATION PROJECT TO REPAIR LANCASTER CEMETERY IN HONOR OF CIVIL WAR GENERAL
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War have joined up with Lancaster Cemetery, which has grave markers that date back to the American Revolution, to fund the Reynolds Restoration Project. The money will be utilized to fix, restore, and stabilize the Reynolds family plot's markers, gravestones, and ornamental features.
Scott Fasnacht, a former Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War camp commander, says that they want to maintain the cemetery's reputation and keep honoring our nation’s military history. In order to keep the cemetery in tip-top shape and honor Union Soldiers, he said the crew is honored to work with it.
Restoration Underway for Reynolds Family Plot in Lancaster Cemetery
According to Scott Fasnacht, the Reynolds plot needs the surrounding headstones to be repaired, the foundation stabilized, and the flaws in the marble obelisk fixed. He said that the tombstones move due to yearly freezes and thaws because the 70-by-20-foot site is above ground.
More than twenty of Reynolds' family members' tombstones encircle the marble obelisk. According to board member Justin Herbert of Lancaster Cemetery, many tombstones have been eroded by weather and time, particularly acid rain.
According to Fasnacht, the goal of the restoration project is to keep the family plot from deteriorating and move it to a sustainable position.
A Blend of History, Nature, and Notable Graves
Established in 1846, Lancaster Cemetery is a 22-acre Victorian-era burial cemetery that continues to enjoy popularity among both locals and tourists. It is the last resting place for almost 17,000 Lancastrians, including 1,400 Veterans, and is one of the biggest green areas downtown.
In addition to serving as Franklin & Marshall College's director of management and research, Herbert helps with various maintenance tasks all year long and mows the cemetery's grass in the summer.
He claims that whenever he visits, someone always pauses to view the Reynolds monument, which is the cemetery's most visited location. He claims that because the major general was killed at Gettysburg, travelers occasionally stopped by the Reynolds plot.
According to Herbert, the grounds are also frequented by historians and taphophiles or those who are interested in genealogy, grave markers, and a cemetery's art history. The cemetery now has 150 mature trees, a variety of species, and year-round aesthetic appeal thanks to its recent designation as Kaneko Arboretum.
Who Was Major Gen. John F. Reynolds?
On September 20, 1820, Reynolds was born in Lancaster, one of nine surviving children. His family's former residence is commemorated by a historical marker at 42 W. King St. According to the American Battlefield Trust, Reynolds was nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point by future President James Buchanan, who was a family friend.
His name is engraved into the base of the now-cracked obelisk, and despite graduating in the middle of the pack, he went on to show remarkable bravery and leadership in fights. Reynolds and Catherine Mary Hewitt were engaged, but they kept their relationship a secret because he was Protestant and she was Catholic.
Reynolds led his troops toward Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, a sweltering summer morning. The Confederate troops were also nearly there. He commanded his First Corps to McPherson Ridge, which was strategically valuable. A bullet penetrated Reynolds' neck, instantly killing him. At Gettysburg, he was the most senior Soldier on both sides to be slain.
Sexton George Lutz said in the Lancaster Intelligencer that his solemn funeral on July 4, 1863, in Lancaster was attended by many. Herbert and other historians consider Reynolds to be a significant figure in American history. Herbert added that Reynolds essentially picked that hill as the site of that battle. His decision to fight that day altered the course of the conflict. That hill was the reason the Union won, and that is why Reynolds is still well-celebrated to this day.
How to Help With the Restoration
You can donate to the Reynolds Restoration Project by clicking this link. According to Herbert, the cemetery offers continuous volunteer opportunities every month on the first Saturday at 9 a.m. Among the tasks could be cleaning tombstones, putting together arboretum signs, and maintaining the grounds.
People can also join the core group that does clean-up tasks such as covering various plots, pulling weeds, and mowing the grass during the summer and fall.
For updates on forthcoming activities and volunteer opportunities, follow Lancaster Cemetery on Facebook.
Read next:
- Black Military Heroes Honored Through Civil War-Era Graveyard Restoration
- What Were the Main Causes of the Civil War?
- A Haunting Look: The Hunt for Civil War Ghosts
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