CASSADAGA — The annual meeting of the Cassadaga Cemetery Association was recently held with members attending at the Jefferson Hall in the village.

President Scott Dibble welcomed all to the meeting and led the group in prayer. John Sipos, village historian, led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. The fiscal year for the cemetery association is from May 1, 2019, through April 30, 2020.

The Cassadaga Cemetery dates back to 1817, and this marks the 203rd year. The cemetery is located on the west end of the former village boundary next to another village once known as Burnhams. Burnhams had its own post office, which was located in one of the buildings of the Fredrickson Builders Supply. Burnhams became a part of the Cassadaga village in December 1942 and the village line was extended farther west to the edge of Stockton Hill, Sipos said.

The Cassadaga Cemetery is accessed from Maple Avenue and divided into five sections marked A, B, C, D, and E. Section E is the newest section, recently surveyed.

The secretary treasurer is Sue Penhollow, who presented the financial report of the cemetery. Penhollow was thanked for all of her efforts and work in maintaining the records and completing state forms. Penhollow said the annual Chautauqua County Federation of Rural Cemeteries meeting will not be held in 2020 and is tentatively scheduled for June 2021.

Jedidah Walter, Cassadaga Cemetery grounds keeper, spoke of the maintenance issues of the cemetery and the servicing of the equipment. Walter gave a list of projects which need to be completed in the cemetery to Dibble. Lawn mowers and trimming equipment are to be serviced in the near future. Maintaining the cemetery is a continuous effort. When lots were sold with perpetual care, one never considered that inflation would take over, causing maintenance costs to rise.

The Cassadaga Cemetery Association accepts donations to help improve equipment, maintain equipment and maintain cemetery. Walter was thanked by board members for the fine job of keeping the cemetery looking good. All donations may be sent to Cassadaga Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 351, Cassadaga, NY 14718.

Penhollow said that there is a list of rules and regulations for the cemetery. These are posted on the cemetery bulletin board in the back of section D. Graves are not to be outlined, which is important because it makes mowing difficult. Any item placed at the cemetery must be of a permanent material. Summer items placed at the cemetery must be removed by Oct. 1, and winter and Christmas items need to be removed by April 1. A grant was received from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation of Dunkirk for an addition to the existing tool shed. More storage room is needed for all of the equipment. Construction of the addition is to begin soon and was delayed by the existing problems of the world. It was reported that water is available in various locations of the cemetery.

Elections for officers for 2020-2021 were held. Dibble will serve as the president in the next year. Penhollow will continue to serve as the secretary-treasurer. Trustees elected include Diane House Blizzard, Diane K. Shaw, Cheryl MacKinder, Dan Thorp and Thomas MacKinder. Sipos will serve as the advisor. The next meeting of the association will be Monday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Hall. Lot owners and guests are welcome.