20 June 2008

Dear Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery,

Fortunately, Spring Hill sits on top of a hill where it ALWAYS catches a breeze, for Friday's work day was extremely hot. The constant breeze, and shade kept the volunteers in good spirits as we once again hauled away debris from the recent tree cutting, vigorously attacked the invading ivy, and eradicated acacia sprouts. I want to thank you intrepid volunteers who joined me in hard labor on such an unusually hot day. Regional Parks was again magnificent, supplying us with the large dump truck, chipper machine, tools, and the very welcome cold drinks and snacks - not to mention the 3 hardy parks workers.

I am constantly delighted by the involvement, generosity, and support supplied by the wonderful people of Sonoma County. Most recently, I want to thank Sturgeon's Mill for donating the lumber - and specially MILLING it to our requirements - for use in the rebuilding of the Zilhart enclosure. Dick Giberti is making great progress in reconstructing our enclosure, but needed lumber cut to "old dimensions." When the Zilhart enclosure was built in 1877, a 2 by 4 was 2 inches by 4 inches. Today, as explained by MIStupid.com, "2x4s are not actually 2 inches by 4 inches. When the board is first rough sawn from the log, it is a true 2x4, but the drying process and planing of the board reduce it to the finished 1.5x3.5 size." Bob and Lavonne Sturgeon of Sturgeon's Mill, the historic steam-powered lumber mill that can trace its beginnings to the 1880s, came to our rescue. How fitting that the lumber for our enclosure will come from a mill that is nearly as old as the gravesite.

On his website, http://www.wendtroot.com/cockrill, Larry Wendt says of William Zilhart, William Henry Zilhart was hired by either Larkin Davenport Cockrill or John McReynolds (there were family connections between the Zilhart's and the McReynolds') to take care of the livestock for the 1853 Hagans-Cockrill immigration. He is also the author of the only extant diary of that trip, which is known as the "Ledger of My Travels from Missouri to California April to October 1853". It was probably kept as a record to keep track of the days on the trip which he was to be paid. The diary is a some what spare and unobservant account of undoubtedly the greatest adventure in the life of a lovelorn, semi-literate, ranch hand who hated horses. From Jeanne Miller we are told, William did not marry until about 1865, choosing to wed a girl who was on the [1853] wagon train but twenty years younger than he. [William married Martha Ann Gauldin. Martha's older two sisters, Elizabeth Patience Gauldin and Mary Francis Gauldin, were on the wagon train with their sister Martha, both married James Madison McReynolds, and are both buried at Spring Hill.] Her [Martha Gauldin's] family tells of her adoration for him [William Zilhart] all the ensuing twelve years. Martha and William Zilhart had 6 children including Lulu and Hattie who share a double headstone in Spring Hill. Lulu and Hattie died two days apart in 1877, aged 6 and 3 years old, respectively. We speculate that they may have died from some infectious disease. Around their double headstone, a lovely wooden enclosure was built and a shade tree planted. It is this enclosure that Dick is now recreating. I have attached a picture of what that enclosure looked like before Dick so kindly undertook its restoration.

...The next day possible for me is Friday, July 11th. I know many volunteers are UNABLE to make that day. If you can commit to coming on the 11th of July, please let me know. If I have enough volunteers, I will check with Regional Parks to see if we can schedule that date. My next possible date following the July 11th one would be August 8th.

Thank you all for your continued support for the restoration of Spring Hill cemetery. It is truly a magical place, and one that deserves preservation.