‘Tales from Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery’ Archives
News as first DRAFT – Clairvoyant Day lived and left mysteries
"News is only the first rough draft of history." The originator of this phrase and others very similar is difficult to name with assured accuracy. Admittedly, it is flattering of journalists and perhaps disputed by most historians who desire to base their work on primary sources not the findings, presentation, and analyses of journalists that write 365 days of the year under pressures of deadlines. Nonetheless, we know newspapers archives are used by historians. We know that 42 years of The Alley pages have been and are used by researchers and historians. We know that Sue Hunter Weir, author of Tales of Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery uses newspaper archives extensively. As with newspaper news, newspaper columns, or history it is always imperative to note the sources for the reader to use in tempering their own conclusions and opinions. Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery BY SUE HUNTER WEIR 159th in a Series Today”'s major local newspapers are not as [...]
The Reluctant Graveyard – Movies, Bands, and Graves
Star Tribune writer, Rachel Hutton, captured the essence of the Friends of the Cemetery mission as communicated by Sue Hunter Weir, embellished by photographer Timothy McCall, and other friends of Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery in a featured story in the newspaper's July 24th Variety Section, front and back page. Enjoyment of cemetery ambiance and green space is not new in the history of America, this cemetery, or at Lakewood Cemetery in Mpls. Instead, it is the revival of a wonderful custom. Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery, at Cedar Av. And E. Lake Street, regularly shows old motion pictures as you have read and seen in these Alley pages. Such complimentary uses, as reminded in this Star Tribune article, have the added benefit of raising modest funds for Cemetery work.
Restoration by movie and tour funds – Markers keep memories aboveground
TODD MAHON, MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery By SUE HUNTER WEIR 158th in a Series Have you ever wondered what happens to the money that we raise by showing movies and giving tours in the Cemetery? Now that the money needed to restore the fence is secured, we”'ve moved on to see what can be done to preserve the markers. From June 13 until June 20, 2018, members of the Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps have been in the Cemetery cleaning, straightening, unearthing, and resetting markers. At the end of only three and a-half days they had already completed work on 80 markers and they still had two and-a-half days to go. And they did much of their work in 90-plus degree temperatures. The staff is five members of an AmeriCorps crew who have received training in restoring historic properties. Their work is funded through the State”'s Legacy program, and Friends of the Cemetery is picking up the cost of the materials [...]
