Touring preservationist group teaches cemetery upkeep in St. Joseph
By Leah Rainwater
A preservation team that travels around the country visited the historic Mount Mora Cemetery on Wednesday to share knowledge with St. Joseph residents about repairing and taking care of gravestones.
The 48 State Tour is a free and public event that aims to preserve and teach local residents how to preserve America’s graveyards. It’s headed by Jonathan Appell, who is the CEO of Atlas Preservation.
This year, the only cemetery in Missouri that the group is stopping by is the Mount Mora Cemetery, which was established in 1851 and is a big piece of the city’s history.
“We’re just grateful that he chose us for July 24 and we thought, ‘It could be really hot, it could be really difficult, it could rain’, and today, we have a wonderful day,” said Suzanne Lehr, one of the founder’s of the Mount Mora Preservation and Restoration Association.
Kurt Jordan, otherwise known as the “KC Cemetery Man,” submitted Mount Mora to be on the map.
“I’m involved with the folks on the board here, preserving Mount Mora. With their approval, I reached out to John and his company to have Mount Mora be the one and only site for this 48 State Tour for the state of Missouri,” Jordan said.
Jordan said it’s important to teach preservation to residents in the area.
“I think it’s just an obligation we have as society to preserve these historic and sacred places,” Jordan said. “It reflects upon all of us, that we mow and maintain, clean and reset these markers. Otherwise, we’re just, in my estimation, being disrespectful to history and the memory of these individuals.”
Lehr said it’s wonderful to be able to continue to work on the preservation and restoration of the cemetery.
“We’re the oldest cemetery in St. Joe and we have so many significant people buried here,” Lehr said. “We’re very special to have them resting here and we enjoy keeping the place in their memory.”
The next stop in the 48 State Tour is Marion, Iowa. The tour will end Aug. 16.
