Plant

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Richmond Cemetery Disgrace

On 26 June 2014 I stopped for a visit at the Richmond, Utah, City Cemetery. I have a number of family buried there. It had been several years since I had been to the cemetery. I stopped by the Jonas family graves and was shocked by what I saw. Open scarring and damage to the tombstones. This is a follow up to a previous post.

Tombstone of Irwin J Jonas, notice the top side has been completely chipped away, along with the obvious metal dragging across the surface.

I reached out to Richmond City Hall to find out who was in charge of the Cemetery. I was given the name and phone number of Jeff Young and Cheryl Peck. I called and left a message for both. I returned to the Cemetery to take some additional pictures.

Tombstone of my grandfather, Norwood Jonas. Notice how the top corners are both completely chipped away.
Backside of tombstone for Joseph and Lillian Jonas. Notice the apparent dragging of the mower deck along the back of the stone.

Over the next few weeks, I called and left messages for Jeff Young and Cheryl Peck. I indicated who I was and why I was calling. I never received a call back from either.

Tombstone of Herbert & Martha Coley. Notice the large chips and damage to the top of the stone.

A month or two later after no response from Mr. Young or Ms. Peck, I called back to Richmond City Hall. I was given the phone number for Marlowe Adkins. I had met Mr. Adkins when I worked for Inlande Environmental and Richmond City was doing some upgrades to their wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Adkins explained to me that the Cemetery had a Citizens Committee that was responsible for the Cemetery and Mr. Young was the one to talk to regarding the care of the Cemetery.

Tombstone of Ole Christiansen. Notice the large chip out of the top right, the corner worn off the bottom right, and the rounded damage on the top left.

I had not been to the cemetery for probably close to 8 years. As far as I can tell on the family tombstones all the damage occurred during that time.

I walked around the cemetery and snapped photos of the obvious damage on other grave markers.

  • Previous Mayor of Richmond Ross Plant’s tombstone didn’t fare any better.
  • This is obviously from repeated mowing and dragging the mower deck across the stone face.
  • Notice the large chip on the top right.
  • Both top corners completely chipped away.
  • Dragging of the metal along the back by the mower.
  • Large gash across the top chipping the stone and leaving the metal rust.
  • American Legion medallion completely broken from its rod.
  • The American Legion badges don’t even have the posts anymore.
  • This has been sitting there for a good while.
  • Looks like the city is kind enough to not throw away everyone’s hook!
  • Substantial chipping away on the corners of the stone.
  • Watch your step.
  • The entire stone has been pushed aside.

After not hearing from Mr. Young or Ms. Peck for several months, I reached out to an attorney regarding liability for the damages to these stones. Ultimately, the determination was made that proving the date of the damage was going to be hard and second Utah only has a small time frame in which to make notice of the injury. The king has again protected itself against liability. There would be no recourse against Richmond. Some of the FindaGrave photos uploaded in 2010 did have some of the damages showing, so we were obviously over the known injury time frame to make a claim.

Hopefully citizens and residents of Richmond would care how their Cemetery is being cared for, but I guess since it happened and no action was taken, I guess I might be wrong. Not my fight. But I can hope that shining a light on the issue might help.

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4th Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Back (l-r): Jay Purser, Kirt Hatch, Jeff Theurer, Charles Pratt, Gary Anderson, Mr. Harold Grunig;  Third: Faye Housley, Shanna Bullen, Debbie Day, Ann Bair, Peggy Plant, Genna Randall, Susan Jones; Second: Fern Housley, Sherri Bundy, Barbara Housley, Jane Robinson, Beth Ann Miller, Sandy Jonas, Dixie Eskelson, Beth Cartwright; Front: Zan Christensen, LuDell Tripp, Leslie Smith, Kim Christensen, Jimmy Johnson, Reed Webb, Steven Bowles

This picture is from the 1963 – 1964 school year at Park Elementary in Richmond, Utah.

Mr. Harold Junior Grunig (1924 – 1994)

Gary Anderson (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Steven Bowles (? – ?)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Sherri Bundy (? – ?)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Purser (1954 – 2010)

Dixie Eskelsen (? – ?)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Fern Housley married Taylor (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Susan Jones (? – living)

Beth Ann Miller (1954 – 1974)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Charles Pratt (? – living)

Jay Purser (? – living)

Genna Randall (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen (? – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Jeffery Theurer (? – living)

LuDell Tripp (? – living)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)

 

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3rd Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Top (l-r): Susan Jones, Ann Bair, Kirt Hatch, Mrs Faun Dahle, Charles Pratt, Jeff Theurer, Zan Christensen, Mrs Leola Ash, Barbara Housley, Jane Robinson, Sandra Jonas; Middle: Sherri Bundy, Faye Housley, Peggy Plant, Barbara Watts, Debbie Day, Shanna Bullen, Fern Housley, Beth Cartwright; Front: Steven Bowles, Reed Webb, Kim Christensen, Jay Purser, Gary Anderson, Leslie Smith, Jimmy Johnson.

This 3rd grade picture is from the 1962 – 1963 school year at Park Elementary in Richmond, Utah.

Mrs Leola Long Ash (1920 – 2008)

Mrs Faun Singleton Dahle (1904 – 1994)

Gary Anderson (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Steven Bowles (? – ?)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Sherri Bundy (? – ?)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Purser (1954 – 2010)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Fern Housley married Taylor (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Susan Jones (? – ?)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Charles Pratt (? – ?)

Jay Purser (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen (? – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Jeff Theurer (? – living)

Barbara Watts (? – living)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)

 

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2nd Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Back (l-r): Reed Webb, Roland Hobbs, Jeff Theurer, Kirt Hatch, Zan Christensen, Gary Andersen, Flora Allen; 3rd Row: Susan Jones, Peggy Plant, Ann Bair, Jane Robinson, Molly Lulwyler, Debbie Day, Barbara Housley; 2nd Row: Shanna Bullen, Pamela Bun, Beth Cartwright, Sherry Bundy, Fern Housley, Faye Housley, Sandra Jonas, Barbara Watts; Front: Jay Purser, Michael Smith, Brent Haslam, Tommy Hatch, Jimmy Johnson, Kim Christensen, Leslie Smith

This picture is from the 1961 – 1962 school year at Park Elementary in Richmond, Utah.

Mrs. Flora Greene Allen (1906 – 1996)

Gary Andersen (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Pamela Bun (? – ?)

Sherry Bundy (? – ?)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Pursuer (1954 – 2010)

Brent Haslam (? – living)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Tommy Hatch (? – ?)

Roland Hobbs (? – ?)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Fern Housley married Taylor (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Susan Jones (? – ?)

Molly Lulwyler (? – ?)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Jay Purser (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen ( – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Michael Smith (? – ?)

Jeff Theurer (? – living)

Barbara Watts (? – ?)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)

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1st Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Top (l-r): Oral L Ballam, Flora Allen, Leslie Smith, Barbara Housley, Kirt Hatch, Ann Bair, Shanna Bullen, Jimmy Johnson; 2nd Row: Zan Christensen, Jane Robinson, Sandra Jonas, Jeffery Theurer; 3rd Row: Barbara Watts, Reed Webb, Susan Jones, Faye Housley, Molly Lulwyler, Beth Cartwright, Gary Andersen, Johnny Durney; Bottom Row: Peggy Plant, Kim Christensen, Fern Housley, Pamela Bun, Roland Hobbs, Debbie Day

This picture is from the 1960 – 1961 school year at Richmond Grade School (the name given in the photo). I only knew it as Park Elementary.

Playground to the North of Park Elementary, see the Benson Stake Tabernacle on the far left.

I had to do some research and talk to a few people.  Originally the site of Park Elementary was the old Richmond High School.  Richmond High School was built in 1911-12.  North Cache High School was built in 1920.  Richmond High then became Richmond Grade School.  In 1939 an addition was built and it was named Park Auditorium.  Richmond Grade School was always called Park Elementary, but nobody knows when it formally changed or adopted the name.  Cache County School District just recently abandoned the buildings and donated it to Richmond City.  The students now attend White Pine which is now an elementary school.

I understand the 1911-1912 high school portion has been torn down with the 1939 Park Auditorium addition the oldest portion of the complex.  The Auditorium and other newer additions are still present, but will now house Richmond City offices.

1959 Jonas Reunion with Park Elementary in the background with the auditorium addition.

Mr. Oral Lynn Ballam (1901 – 1993).  He was both the Principal and 1st Grade Teacher.  He has appeared in other posts as teacher and also as student!
Flora Greene married Allen (1906 – 1996)
Gary Anderson (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Pamela Bun (? – ?)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Pursuer (1954 – 2010)

Johnny Durney (? – ?)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Roland Hobbs (? – ?)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Susan Jones (? – ?)

Molly Lulwyler (? – ?)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen (? – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Jeffery Theurer (? – living)

Barbara Watts (? – ?)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)

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6th Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Back (l-r): Peggy Jo Kippes, Fay Housley, Kirt Hatch, Jeff Theurer, Mr. Oral L. Ballam, Lynn Carlson, Zan Christensen, Shanna Bullen, Jane Robinson; Middle: Peggy Anne Plant, Beth Cartwright, Fern Housley, Beth Ann Miller, Barbara Housley, Sandra Jonas, Shelley Fonsbeck, Ann Bair, Debra Day; Front: Jay Purser, Reed Webb, Gary Anderson, Jimmy Johnson, Steven Bowles, Kim Christensen, Leslie Smith.

This is the second of two grade school pictures of my Mom. This one is of her 6th Grade year at Park Elementary, Richmond, Cache, Utah. This is probably the 1964-1965 school year. I wonder if any of these other students are out there somewhere? What stories would they tell? Mom won’t tell me much of her childhood so I really don’t have much to add. Anyone venture?

There are two that are unknown or uncertain. If anyone can correct or clarify, I would very much appreciate it.

Mr. Oral Lynn Ballam (1901 – 1993).  He was both the Principal and 6th Grade Teacher.  He has appeared in other posts as teacher and also as student!

Gary Anderson (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Steven Bowles (? – ?)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Lynn Carlson (? – ?)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Pursuer (1954 – 2010)

Shelley Fonsbeck (? – ?)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Fern Housley married Taylor (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Peggy Jo Kippes married Beins (? – living)

Beth Ann Miller (1954 – 1974)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Jay Purser (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen (? – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Jeffery Theurer (? – living)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)

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5th Grade, Park Elementary, Richmond, Utah

Back (l-r): Jimmy Johnson, Gary Anderson, Kirt Hatch, Jeffery Theurer, Zan Christensen, Steven Bowles, Reed Webb, Mrs. Leona Rasmussen McCarrey.  Middle: Leslie Smith, Jay Purser, Dixie Eskelsen, Sandra Jonas, Barbara Housley, Debra Day, Fern Housley, Beth Cartwright, Kim Christensen.  Front: Ann Bair, Fay Housley, Beth Ann Miller, Jane Robinson, Peggy Jo Kippes, Peggy Anne Plant, Shanna Bullen.

This is one of two grade school pictures of my Mom.  This one is of her 5th Grade year at Park Elementary, Richmond, Cache, Utah.  This is probably the 1963-1964 school year.  I wonder if any of these other students are out there somewhere?  What stories would they tell?  Mom won’t tell me much of her childhood so I really don’t have much to add.  Anyone venture?

Leona Pearl Rasmussen McCarrey (1902 – 1981)

Gary Anderson (? – living)

Ann Bair married Downs (1954 – living)

Steven Bowles (? – ?)

Shanna Bullen married Gibbons (? – living)

Beth Cartwright (1954 – 2018)

Kim Christensen (? – living)

Zan Leonard Christensen (1954 – 1996)

Debra Lynn Day married Purser (1954 – 2010)

Dixie Eskelsen (? – ?)

Kirt Hatch (? – living)

Barbara Housley married Sharp (? – living)

Fay Housley married Purser (? – living)

Fern Housley married Taylor (? – living)

Jimmy Johnson (? – living)

Sandra Jonas (1954 – living)

Peggy Jo Kippes married Beins (? – living)

Beth Ann Miller (1954 – 1974)

Peggy Anne Plant married Ivanyo (? – living)

Jay Purser (? – living)

Jane Robinson married Larsen (? – living)

Leslie Smith (? – living)

Jeffery Theurer (? – living)

Reed Leon Webb (1954 – 1992)