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Markers and monuments in grave need of repair |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Saturday, 01 July 2006 |
Glens Falls Officials attempt to establish cemetery foundation
GLENS FALLS, NY -- Deterioration of a more-than-century-old monument at the Glens Falls Cemetery has made it appear as if the face and clothing of Dr. James Ferguson are covered with soot.
The chipped nose seems hardly fitting for a local medical doctor who bought Prospect Mountain in 1877 and renamed it Mount Ferguson.
"He looks a little sad," said cemetery Superintendent Christopher Andersen.
Ferguson's grave marker is one of many in the city-owned cemetery that are in need of restoration and repair.
In many cases, Andersen said, the cemetery has no record of descendants of one-time prominent local residents.
"Gravesites are there forever, but the families aren't," he said.
So he's looking for a few friends to pick up where families have left off.
City officials are attempting to form a Friends of the Glens Falls Cemetery foundation. The nonprofit organization would seek public and private grants, as well as individual contributions, for restoration and preservation projects.
"It's not our responsibility, technically," Andersen said. "I just thought it would be a nice thing to do to preserve our legacy."
The concept is modeled on the Glens Falls Civic Center Foundation, which has raised money for improvements such as a new scoreboard, hockey safety nets and hand rails for some aisles at the city-owned arena, said Mayor Roy Akins.
"Some folks that have an interest in making it shine want to get involved in it more and more," he said. And just as some have taken an interest in the Civic Center, others may be interested in the city's history, Akins said.
The city-owned 150-acre cemetery, established in 1853, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
At this point, officials are attempting to determine if there is sufficient interest in forming a foundation.
"We've had three or four people that have expressed an interest," Andersen said. "I'd certainly like to see that grow to 10 or 12."
Those interested should contact the cemetery office at 761-3836.
"If we get enough people interested, we'll get them all under one roof one day and see if this thing can take off," Andersen said.
Who was Ferguson?
Dr. James Ferguson, a prominent Glens Falls physician, bought Prospect Mountain in Lake George in 1877 and renamed it Mount Ferguson.
He renovated a farm house as a hotel, which was destroyed in 1880 by a forest fire.
Ferguson built a new hotel, which he later sold to William Peck, who built a cog railroad to the top of the mountain.
Ferguson was born June 29, 1818 at Korthright (Delaware County) and attended Fairfield Medical College in New York and the Academy of Medicine at Casteton, Vt. He died on Oct. 27, 1892 in Glens Falls.
His former medical office at 5 Culvert St. is now a private residence.
Source: Documents on file at The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library.
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2006/06/25/news/doc449f4f7ecd036033275823.txt
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