EMCA Board member Sheri Pyron plays in both Central Horns and the Oregon Brass Band.
Eugene's first brass band was founded by Thomas Belshaw (1825–1890).
Born in England, Thomas was a musician, pharmacist, carpenter, and member of the 1853 wagon train, which left Indiana in March and arrived in Oregon in September.
Captain of the wagon train was Thomas's older brother, George. Many Belshaws are buried in the Masonic Cemetery.
The Eugene Masonic Cemetery has available space for burials and cremations. Email Sally Dietrich at emca1859@gmail.com for more information. Or call 541 684-0949
MUSIC TO DIE FOR
Central Horns
October 28
Carol Sheppard, Laura Eason,
Sheri Pyron, Roger Welsh
Central Lutheran Church is blessed to have a number of French Horn players in the congregation. Out of this unusual convergence of talent, Central Horns was started in 2015.
Since then the group has become a permanent quartet, providing music for Central's Church services several times a year. They are looking forward to branching out and performing both sacred and secular music for our community. Members of the quartet include a retired music teacher, a University of Oregon graduate student, a designer, and an arts administrator.
Please arrive early, as seating becomes scarce or non-existent by 2 PM. There is no parking on the cemetery grounds, so please park on city streets.
This will be the last Music To Die For in 2018. (Where has the year gone?) We plan to continue this popular music series next year in June, 2019. Thank you for your wonderful support for this, our 8th, season.
Hope Abbey Project
If you've walked past Hope Abbey Mausoleum in the last month or so, you will have noticed work being done to the front of the building. If you walk by today, you'll notice..
Nothing Much Different
Such is the frustration that sometimes occurs when a restoration project is completed. The finished job looks essentially as it did a century ago, so what's to notice?
Construction on Hope Abbey began in 1913, and it's had minimal care in those intervening 105 years between then and now. Since 1995 when the EMCA assumed ownership, we have focused mostly in the interior because that's where the majority of damage from vandalism and maintenance neglect has occurred. Now that enough work has been done to the interior to make it not only usable, but also beautiful, it was time to turn our attention to the exterior. The roof and crumbling front porch had been replaced, as well as the petals on the two huge vases, but not much else besides a coat of paint.
The area really needing attention was the massive cast concrete front entrance, but financing being what it is with many non-profit organizations, work was deferred until recently. A special gift from a generous donor has allowed us to finally complete this important restoration. By spending about $12,000 we have been able to bring this part of Hope Abbey back to essentially new condition.
During construction, cement-based mortar acts as the glue between the cast concrete blocks. Mortar is placed between the individual cast stone blocks to make the wall a solid structure and to prevent water penetration at the joints. However, over time, weather and temperature swings cause the exposed mortar to disintegrate, leaving gaps where water can enter. The deterioration was getting bad. Finally this year, this generous gift allowed us to contract with an expert restoration firm, Pioneer Waterproofing, to make the repairs, not only replacing the deteriorating mortar, but patching areas where vandalism broke large chips and corners from the concrete surface itself. Other problems were stains, efflorescence and vestiges of graffiti on other bare cast stone surfaces, all of which were cleaned and
restored.
So the "nothing much different" has a very different meaning when consideration is given to the importance of this project and what it means for the physical integrity of this historic structure. Board member Denny Hellesvig will have a more complete article on the project in the upcoming Monumental News.
Hornet & Yellow Jacket Warning
This is a reminder that wasps continue to be a problem in the Masonic Cemetery. Even though the weather has started cooling, they are still active.
Note the posted signs at the location of known nests, and stay on the paths to minimize the possibility of an encounter.
John Bredesen, eNewsletter Editor Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association
