Town to recognize Clifford pioneer cemetery as historically significant

CLIFFORD – The Town of Minto is making plans to recognize an inactive cemetery site here as historically significant.

At its April 4 meeting, Minto council approved a Cultural Roundtable recommendation to designate Brown Cemetery as historically significant and install signage acknowledging its existence and historical story.

“Mary Jean Hartwig made us aware of the Brown Cemetery in Clifford and how bodies have not been transported over to the Clifford cemetery,” economic and community development director Belinda Wick-Graham told council.

Councillor Ron Elliott requested more details on the proposal.

“Someone told me that the stones were removed at one time and taken to the Clifford Cemetery … a lot of them were destroyed when they moved them or something - is that a factor? You’re going to move the stones back there? What’s the plan?” Elliott asked.

“What Mary Jean told us at the meeting was the stones were moved, but not all the bodies got moved over,” explained Wick-Graham.

Minutes of the March 27 Cultural Roundtable meeting indicate Hartwig reported there were 118 people buried in the Brown Cemetery and, according to records, approximately eight to 10 bodies were relocated.

“We have talked about it at public Works,” said co-interim CAO Chris Harrow.

“The stones are not going to come back. They’re part of the Clifford Cemetery now. But we are looking at pricing for a sign to say it’s a pioneer cemetery and maybe just some decorative fencing across the front, just to identify it. And then we will come forward with a designation bylaw just so future generations know that vacant land that is in Clifford was a former cemetery,” Harrow added.

“How big an area is it?” asked Elliott.

“It’s the entire lot behind … the Clifford Medical Centre and library (on Brown Street),” Harrow replied.

“We’ll grass it and keep it cut?” asked Elliott.

“It’s already grassed. It’s our property. We’ve been cutting and maintaining it for years. Just a lot of people didn’t know it was a pioneer cemetery,” said Harrow.

He told council staff members are researching some history of the cemetery, such as dates of operation, to put on the identifying signage.