Last weekend, the community of Boulder Creek proved sometimes the solution to a problem means putting in a little old fashioned hard labor.
On March 18, an estimated 40 people showed up to the Boulder Creek Cemetery to help clean up overgrown shrubs and weeds.
“I guess someone was walking by and though the place needed a cleanup,” said Steve Briscoe, of the Boulder Creek Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.). “Through the Facebook group Boulder Creek Neighbors we started to get enough interest to organize an event.”
Briscoe and Boulder Creek resident Susanna Gaines both assisted with coordinating the efforts on Sunday. Bob Pilgreen, of Travis Trees provided a crew, trucks and a chipper. Kevin Foster, of Boulder Creek and online administrator of Boulder Creek Neighbors, set up a barbeque for the volunteers to enjoy.
According to Briscoe, about five years ago several trees were removed from the property, leaving several shrubs and overgrown plants. Additionally parts of the fence around the cemetery were broken.
Boulder Creek Cemetery started out as family graveyard and was later given to the I.O.O.F. in 1910 and has been maintained by the organization ever since. Briscoe was asked to give a brief history talk of the cemetery to the volunteers on Sunday before the work began.
“People were encouraged and wanted to learn more about the cemetery,” Briscoe said. “It is just overwhelming the response was really a blessing.”
According to Briscoe, the hope is to have another community cleanup day in mid-May before Memorial Day.
“It’s nice to see that the community doesn’t just complain when there is a problem—they find a way to make something better,” Foster said. “It is pretty awesome to see.”
Briscoe credited the Boulder Creek Neighbor Facebook page for the ability to easily generate enough interest to execute the cleanup event.
