MORENCI — In August 2022, a strong wind storm came through Morenci. In its wake it left considerable damage to Oak Grove Cemetery. The heavy winds caused one of the old trees near the chapel to snap just above its base and fall onto the building. The impact caused the building to almost fold in half, according to Ted Hutchison, supervisor of the Morenci Department of Public Works.
Michigan Building Specialties, based in Adrian, was hired by the Morenci City Council in October 2022 to construct the replacement of the chapel and sexton’s office. The new building is approximately 2,000 square feet, like the old chapel, and has approximately the same layout with a chapel at the front, office in the middle, and a shop and storage in back for groundskeeping equipment.
The total cost to replace the building was $341,759, according to city administrator Jeff Bell.
“Insurance covered $323,591 with taxpayers covering $18,168. The furnishings for the chapel and office will be purchased by the city. Those costs are above the cost of replacing the building,” Bell said.
“I think we are going to end up with a nicer facility than what we previously had,” he added.
Eric Emmons, cemetery sexton, and Christa Davis, assistant sexton, are overseeing decorating the building. Davis is taking the lead on creating a chapel conducive for soothing, peaceful reflections as well as an appropriate place to hold funeral services in case of inclement weather. Currently, they are in the process of getting furniture and other items to complete the chapel and office.
“May 16 is our goal for completion of the project,” Emmons said, “but certainly it will be done in time for the Memorial Day ceremony.”
The city is planning an open house for the chapel and sexton building on Memorial Day following the annual Memorial Day activities at the cemetery, which begin with a parade starting at 10 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Other casualties of the wind storm in 2022 were many of the old trees in the cemetery. As the trees fell, most of the decorative iron fence was destroyed.
Last year an anonymous donor gave the cemetery more than 30 trees of about seven varieties. Many of these trees will be used to create the new borderline because the fence will not be replaced.
When asked about water service to the cemetery, Emmons reported that it is a go. He will be placing buckets at the various water pumps for ease of use when planting and watering flowers this spring.
The original Morenci cemetery, referred to as the “old” cemetery, has been updated as well.
After doing some research, Emmons proposed that the cemetery be named after two of the founders of Morenci, Simon D. Wilson and Jepthah Whitman. The city council agreed and an entrance was created for the cemetery bearing the name Wilson and Whitman Cemetery.
Future plans include placing a monument to the two men near the entrance.