March 14 UPDATE: A Spring clean-up of San Jose II Cemetery (formerly the Montopolis Cemetery) is scheduled for Saturday April 23 - beginning at 9 AM (weather permitting). We are meeting at 2512 Hoeke Lane . You will be directed into the parking area. Everyone should sign in on-site. Please spread the news and bring others with you. Before any work begins, there will be a short introductory talk. We will break off into teams. Please note that there is thorny greenbriar, so leather gloves are recommended. If you bring tools, please label them with your name and phone number. Please protect yourself with appropriate clothing and gloves. The area has poison oak. Fortunately the new spring plant growth will just be beginning. Please do not wear sandals - and long sleeve shirts are advised. There is no electricity. Access to a restroom with running water is being arranged. A major focus is the removal of trash and especially tires. A pathway for vehicles from the orgin...
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UPDATE: The first-ever meeting of the San Jose Montopolis Cemetery Association will meet THIS Saturday March 12. The basic agenda items to be discussed will be procedural issues, reviewing priorities and orienting ourselves to address the responsibilities we have undertaken. Because of the need to organize the internal affairs of the board first, we will open future meetings up to the community. Stay tuned for the invitation and we hope you will join us then.
February Update There are several plans on the horizon for SJI & II. First and foremost is news of the creation of an association for both San Jose cemeteries. As mentioned in the last post, the association (made up of four decedents of ancestors buried at San Jose I and II), will advocate for and organize the maintenance of these two cemeteries, as well as serve as the community voice for the resting place of our ancestors. From now through spring, here is a developing list of goals: 1) Organize and prepare for the second clean-up of SJ II. This could also include the erection of a fence along the south-eastern side of the cemetery to stop persistent trespassing. 2) Hold the first JSMCA board meeting and establish by-laws 3) Complete phase one of the documentation of funeral home records for both cemeteries 4) Complete the collection of known SJ I and II death certificates 5) Attempt to contact as many family members as possible who have ancestral ties to both cemeteries...
The San Jose Montopolis Cemetery Association is now official! A Certificate of Formation for a non-profit corporation has been issued by the Texas Secretary of State. This is significant news. This milestone is a major step in insuring that both San Jose Cemeterio I and the San Jose II Cemetery (formerly the Montopolis Cemetery) are now umbrellaed under the same organization and through it's efforts, can represent the best interests for both cemeteries. Many thanks goes out to the Montopolis CDC, the four-member board and the east Austin community who made this possible. The newly-formed board of directors (trustees) will soon draw up by-laws and establish short and long term goals and future plans for both San Jose cemeteries. For now, the main focus will be directed on the San Jose Cemetery II off of Hoeke Lane. Also look for an update regarding another in a series of clean-up soon to be announced.
In preparation for events at San Jose II Cemetery, we are in the home stretch - and your help is still needed. The decorations of the cemetery will begin to happen tomorrow morning. The biggest task is lining the path from the front entrance to the cemetery with luminaries and glass candles. If you are able to contribute non -labled plain white prayer candles from Fiesta ($1.17 each), we are in need of those. Also needed are 500 or more brown or white paper bags with a 3.5 x 6 in base. Tomorrow, they will need to be laid out. We will need volunteers to decorate each of the 30 graves with candles and whatever flowers we have available. We understand that Central Market are the only retail source for marigolds. ProyectoTEATRO are providing SJ II with flowers, but they too are experiencing a shortage as well. We need volunteers to canvas the adjacent neighborhood and hand out prepared fliers door-to-door today (Nov 1) and tomorrow morning. We have 200 printed. You can mail: atxhispan...
Hello once again and Happy Halloween. Yesterday a modest number of volunteers gathered at SJ II (2512 Hoeke Lane) and more headway was gained. In fact, all of the major cutting with a chain saw and clippers has pretty much been completed for now. The result is that grounds have opened up to sunlight and now made a Day of the Dead (November 2) event possible for the first time at SJ II. A pathway througout the south side of SJ II has been establised. However a bit more litter needs to be removed. All the individual graves are ready to be raked (there are about 30 total). Black mulch will then be laid out on each grave plot. Each grave will recieve one or two tea candles and at least two flowers. ProyectoTEATRO will provide some flowers, but it is unclear how many. It is expected that another type of mulch will be delivered on Monday, and will need to be spread out to make the path clear and easy to follow throughout the cemetery. If time permits, the folding of paper bags for luminare...