Published: October 12, 2009 02:58 pm      

There is hope for Hopewell

Surrounded by towering trees and lush shrubbery, the Hopewell Cemetery in Merit is a peaceful place, but these same elements that lend a sense of peace are also aiding in the site’s slow slip into oblivion.

Since February, the Hopewell RIP (Record, Investigate and Protect) Guardians, of which PRINT (Paranormal Research and Investigation of North Texas) is a big part, have contributed more than 500 hours of volunteer labor to put some hope back into Hopewell.

Kenny Kobb with PRINT was the one who stumbled across Hopewell Cemetery in what could only be described as an act of fate.

“I came across this cemetery online and wanted to come out and see it,” said Kobb. “It took me about four months to find it because the directions were wrong. When I finally found it and saw what shape it was in, I suggested to Chad (Chad Miller, co-founder of PRINT) that we should take it on as a preservation project so we could give something back to the community.”

Chad agreed and approached PRINT members about the project.

“We wanted to give back to the community that has given us so much,” said Chad Miller, PRINT co-founder. “We wanted to do something in a positive light for those people that believe in what we stand for and what we represent.”

The first day at the cemetery was a little overwhelming.

“When we first came out here it was heartbreaking,” said Jessica Brock with PRINT. “People’s relatives are buried out here and there’s no finding, even now, some of the graves yet. It’ll probably take another year of work to get this all cleared out where you can actually see all the graves. We found a whole family plot that was completely buried.”

The vast majority of their time at Hopewell has been spent physically clearing out vegetation by hand and handheld power tools, and attending Cemetery Preservation Workshops, provided by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in an effort to learn better preservation practices.

“They’ve been working monthly since February,” said Anne Shelton, RIP Guardian Coordinator with the Texas Historical Commission. “They’ve done a really amazing job. It’s going to take monthly maintenance to maintain it though, and the more people they can get out here the better.”

It’s a constant struggle to keep Mother Nature at bay, but the Hopewell RIP Guardians are determined to get it done.

“That’s what we’re out here to do,” said Miller. “I think a lot of the reason people stay away is because of our organization. They think we’re doing paranormal research out here, but that’s not it. We’ve not once even thought about doing any investigation, data collection or research. That’s not what we’re here for.”

Their main drive is the knowledge that sometimes, cemeteries are the only tangible link to a community that no longer exists, and the Hopewell Cemetery is an excellent example of this type of historical site.

The Hopewell Cemetery, located in northwest Hunt County, houses approximately 170 interments and was established in the 1860s near Floyd.

There is very little known about this cemetery, except that it was restored and officially rededicated in 1959. Since then, time, weathering, neglect, a tornado and nature’s reclamation has severely damaged the cemetery. As far as the RIP Guardians can tell, the last burial was in 1946.

The Hopewell RIP Guardians have accomplished much in the time they’ve spent at the cemetery, but there’s still plenty left to do and they’re in need of a little assistance.

“Anybody can help in any way,” said Shelton. “If people want to bring lemonade or record what is being said about site, then that’s good.”

While the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office Association has recently joined the effort, the Hopewell RIP Guardians still have more work than they alone can handle.

“We need more sincere volunteers,” said Miller. “We need people to pick up branches, rake up leaves, cut down trees and weed eat. You name it, we need it.”

Miller seeks to get the word out to organizations or businesses, like a tree cutting service or a group seeking to do a community service project, who might consider donating a little of their time and/or equipment.

The RIP Guardians are also seeking sponsorships in regard to food. Water is already taken care of, as Aerobic Water in Greenville has agreed to a year sponsorships.

“Any form of assistance will be great appreciated,” said Miller.

This group of dedicated individuals can be found the first Saturday of every month laboring away at Hopewell, trying to clear away some 35 years of neglect and natural growth.

“Sometimes I think it’s unnatural growth,” said Miller with a laugh.

While they may work away most of the day, there is a certain amount of peace to be found, both in the labor and the cemetery itself.

“Coming out here in the morning, the sunshine filtering down through the trees, it’s so peaceful,” said David Foster, member of the Hopewell Cemetery RIP Guardians and Cemetery Preservation Committee Chair.



For more information about the Hopewell Cemetery cleanup project contact Chad Miller at 903-217-0499 or David Foster at 903-461-4183, or visit the Hopewell Cemetery Web site at www.myspace.com/hopewellcemetery.