Local Graveyard Receives Much Needed TLC

DULUTH - Interested community members along with preservation organizations whipped out their brushes and cleaning solution to give some much needed TLC to historic gravestones at Scandia Cemetery."In some cemeteries, there aren't care takers of those and so we hope to fulfill some of those maintenance needs," said Brooke Tapp, with the Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps."For me, I love stone work, I love rock work and stuff," said volunteer, Joan Broten. They straighten out and scrub off grime and lichen from tombs that are sunken, discolored and hard to read. The graves have been neglected or abandoned because family members have either passed or moved away."Just the lifespan of the people that are on the headstones, their history is really interesting," said Broten. Bringing dignity to them and keeping history alive is behind all the action."There's a lot of history and our heritage and understanding the area history by working with the monuments," said Tapp. The cemetery itself is also rich in history. It was started by the Bredesons who emigrated from Norway to Duluth in the 1880s to escape poor farming conditions. It is now in the hands of John Bredison, a retired National Guard member."I go four and five hours at a time mowing different sections,” said Bredison. “In that you get all the good fresh air and all that so I really enjoy it." Bredison said about 95 percent of the graves no longer have caretakers, so he'll take any help he can get."When they called me, I said, 'sure you’re more than welcome to help.'" Crews will travel all over Minnesota to preserve other historical landmarks. This week they will lend their services to the Duluth Armory. According to reports, there are more than 1,000 neglected and abandoned cemeteries in Minnesota. The event was put on by the Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps and the Minnesota Historical Society.