Getting Started at Western Heights Cemetery
Below is an update on progress at the historic Western Heights Cemetery -- burial place of Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde and some of Dallas' early pioneers -- which has been "adopted" by the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group.
Through the Constellation of Living Memorials (CLM) 2-year pilot program, a grant of $3,750 has been received from the Texas Historical Foundation to create a native pollinator habitat. An equal matching amount must be raised so in total there will be a budget of $7,500 for a native landscape restoration for the 2 acre cemetery.
A little back story on CLM: Four years ago, the Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery had a vision to restore the neglected historic Ferris Cemetry into a native wildlife habitat, a jewel for its neighborhood in a Dallas neighborhood of Forest Hills, as a means of honoring those buried there. Expanding its mission, The Constellation of Living Memorials two-year pilot was born under the Friends group. Its mission is to demonstrate how saving historic cemeteries enriches Dallas by reconnecting everyone to authentic sense of place. The Western Heights Cemetery will be participating as one of the eight Dallas historic cemeteries in this pilot. Supporting each other, these eight cemeteries will create self-sustaining native habitats bringing sacred grounds back to life while honoring rich Dallas culture and natural history. After two years of refining the program, CLM plans to role out statewide then nationwide.
Through the Constellation of Living Memorials Program, a $30,000 grant has been obtained from the Summerlee Foundation for cultural archeology. This study will be lead by Victoria Clow, Preservation Dallas President and Cemetery Archeologist. A one-year cultural archeological study will be conducted by her college students. This will be designed to be adopted by other professors for their classroom outdoor curriculums to include genealogical research, headstone cleaning, solicit neighborhood interest and host an attic fair.
Through the CLM program, Chris Freeman of Lina T. Ramsey & Associates along with UAV pilots Michael Ash and Mason Smith of SmartDrone have compiled a topographical survey with 1 foot contour lines, pro-bono (!) which will be extremely helpful in designing a native landscape restoration. Pat Baldassaro, Principal at PJB Surveyors, will be conducting historic research on the property.
Dan Kieninger of Texas Cemetery Restoration LLC has pro bono mapped every headstone, photographed them all, transcribed all genealogical inscriptions into a database, and tagged every headstone with its exact GPS location!! Dan will also be using ground penetrating radar in certain areas to locate unmarked graves. He conducted a walking tour of Western Heights Cemetery on October 28, 2023 and talked on the symbolism of various artistic elements and motifs on headstones.
Below are a few examples of headstones in Western Heights Cemetery.
Blount Designs has pro bono created a landscape plan with an ADA entrance, paved trail, lighting, emergency call box, informational signage, seating, etc.
Volunteers Steve and Patti Erickson have also photographed and transcribed every headstone including not only the genealogically significant portion of the inscriptions but also the epitaphs. They are going to attach photographs to all entries on the Find A Grave website that don't currently have photographs and will also be creating entries for every grave at Western Heights that currently isn't listed on Find A Grave.
Steve has also compared the 1992 database of headstones created by the Dallas Genealogical Society, to Dan Kieninger's recent database mentioned above and the Find A Grave website to identify and correct errors as well as merge the three databases to create a more comprehensive listing of burials. A database of descendants continues to grow and the relationships between associated families buried at Western Heights are being mapped.
Volunteers Marcie Haley and Jenn Wester have identified existing native species to protect while new habitat is created as well as compiling lists of additional native species with high habitat value to incorporate.
Julie Fineman, The Constellation Co-Creator, obtained the grants from The Texas Historical Foundation and the Summerlee Foundation and solicited the donation of the topographical survey. CLM Co-Creator, Lee West, led the CLM scientific Board of an Advisors to create the 2 yr protocol flora and pollinator fauna study. Over the next two years, volunteer citizen scientists will document on-site flora and fauna diversity as they exist currently, during restoration, and upon completion. CLM has also provided much valuable guidance in many other aspects of this project.
And we are just getting started!!
