TOURING FOR RESTORATION

I want to share an amazing story with you. When I first came to work at Magnolia Cemetery thirty-seven years ago many achievement goals were already set in place. If only you could have seen what we were facing. I thought how can we make a turnaround like this possible.

Year after year the kindness of lot owners and friends of Magnolia have helped us with their generous donations in making many of those goals a reality.  

We are approaching four years of trying to raise funds to repair the termite damage to the plantation house. You have helped us generate well over half the amount it will take to accomplish these repairs.

I am happy to announce that with your help we have closed a contract with Meadors Inc. to complete these repairs. Although there is a large amount still need to totally cover the cost of the repairs the work is already in progress.

We have recently granted exclusive permission to Bulldog Tours, Inc. to operate nightly tours in Magnolia Cemetery. These tours are strictly walking tours and last about 90 minutes each. Bulldog Tours will be generating a portion of their proceeds to help financially repair the Plantation House.

If you want to help the Magnolia Cemetery Trust repair the Plantation House, which houses the administrative offices for the cemetery, you now have another way to contribute. To purchase tickets please CLICK HERE: https://bulldogtours.com/spirits-of-magnolia-tour/ .

TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD HOUSE NEEDS YOUR HELP

Pictured above the Federal style house constructed between 1798 and 1805 by Colonel William Cunnington, owner of Magnolia Umbra Plantation. The completely restored house, after hurricane Hugo, functions as the administrative offices of Magnolia Cemetery Trust. At the present this house has major termite damage. I have inserted Mr. McDowell's last newsletter in which he explains the necessary repairs to insure the soundness of the structure and the cost involved. Without these repairs the structure will deteriorate beyond repair. To be apart of this effort and make a tax-deductible donation please make checks payable to:
                   Magnolia Cemetery Trust 
                   P. O. Box 22873
                   Charleston, SC 29413

Dear Friends of Magnolia:

           It is very hard to believe that it has been three years since our last communication. The holiday season is upon us once again!

The cemetery is an irreplaceable part of our city, state and national cultural heritage, but much of the historic landscape, buildings and artistic grave markers are endangered as a result of serious neglect. Although Magnolia Cemetery has been a perpetual care cemetery since 1954 and perpetual care has been mandatory since 1974, even today many lots remain without perpetual care. Grave markers are private property, and owners are accountable for the repairs and maintenance.

Some family members have faithfully overseen the upkeep of their loved ones' graves for many years. However, as families have moved away and descendants have passed on, a number of graves have been neglected. A great deal of professional and volunteer conservation work has been performed on damaged headstones, but every year additional grave markers are affected by problems associated with age, ground settling, and inclement weather.

As I reflect on the substantial damage received by Magnolia Cemetery resulting from hurricane Matthew the unexpected cost of the clean up it is obvious that the annual operating budget has suffer. We still have quite a way to go but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We hope and pray that all our readers in the areas hit by Matthew made it out okay.

In past years, we have been able to use the accrued interest from our portfolio to supplement the operating fund paying for most daily expenses. As you know, interest rates are very low and prices continue to rise.

Most recently, we purchased several new weed-eaters, lawn mowers and made much need repairs to our riding lawn mower. We replaced all deteriorated wood and painted the entire walk bridge. During the October 2015 flood we had the extra expense of repairing our breached flood gate. The Gate was repaired and the threaded valve stem was replaced.  All of these expenses were included in the general maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. However, the massive tree removal, resulting from hurricane Matthew, totaled over $15,000 made quite a debt to our reserve fund.

We are now faced with the financial burden of making extensive repairs to the Plantation house which functions as our office. This buildings along with the architectural value of the landscape by Edward C. Jones are the elements that qualifies the cemetery to be on the National Register of Historic Places. Being on the NRHP allows us to apply for certain grants. So you see how important it is to maintain these structures.

 We have completed a very thorough interior and exterior assessment. The assessment in itself was expensive, $20,000 plus.

The project is set up in three phases:

Site Mobilization……………………………………$ 24,037.86

Immediate Priority………………………………….$  89,561.05

Short Term………………………………………….$  88,116.89

Long Term………………………………………….$    1,981.85

Total Project………………………………………..$ 203,697.65

If the project is not completed in one continuous stage the site mobilization would be applied each time the set up phase is repeated.

  The cemetery has come a long way, because of friends like you, but there is still much work to be done. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us to preserve this cultural treasure by providing funds to help pay for much-needed conservation work on the buildings, road and pathways as well as provide necessary tools, equipment and other improvements to this National Landmark.

Yours very truly,
G. Simms McDowell, III 
Chairman                                                  

2014 SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS

    We here at Magnolia are truly honored to have been included with the recipients of the Historic Preservation Awards presented by S.C. Gov. Nikki R. Haley. Pictured above from left are Beverly M. Donald, Superintendent, Magnolia Cemetery; Gov..Haley; Robert Gurley, Director of Advocacy, Preservation Society of Charleston; and Craig Bennett, Jr., Bennett Preservation Engineering.

  

    Thanks and gratitude go to the PreservationSociety of Charleston for including the Magnolia Cemetery Receiving Tomb on its “Seven to Save” project, Craig Bennett, Jr. with the Bennett Preservation Engineering PC for his expert contributions to the project, and the family of Ted Ashton Phillips, Jr. for graciously making this project happen.

    On June 11, 2014 at the State House, the Preservation Society of Charleston, Bennett Engineering PC and Magnolia Cemetery Trust all received the Honor Award for Historic Preservation. The South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards in partnership with the PalmettoTrust for Historic Preservation and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History present this Historic Preservation Award in recognition of exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural and heritage.

    The Board of Trustees for Magnolia Cemetery Trust extends gratitude to each of the entities for all their involvement, hard work and interest in Magnolia Cemetery and look forward to working with you all in the future.   

A WINTERY SCENE AT MAGNOLIA CEMETERY

I hope the decision not to open the gates Wednesday did not inconvenience anyone. Magnolia’s staff was not required to come to work due to the dangerous condition causing the closing of roadways and bridges throughout the city. The cemetery is now open to the public. When I arrived at the cemetery this morning the beauty created by the storm took my breath away. Everything glistened and sparkled like crystal as if fairy dust had been sprinkled over the entire cemetery. However, as beautiful as the scene may seem, some element of danger still exist. We ask that you use extreme caution while navigating the roadways, paths and the bridge within the cemetery until the ice that is breaking limbs and causing slippery conditions melts away. It will take us a few days to clean away all the debris throughout the cemetery.

We have not notice any damage to monuments or structures caused by this storm. If you notice any damage to your property that may be attributed to this storm please contact the cemetery office.

RECEIVING TOMB UPDATE

            In 2011 the Preservation Society of Charleston voted to include Magnolia Cemetery's Receiving Tomb in its “Seven to Save” project. “Seven to Save” is a project to raise interest and financial assistance for historical structures threatened by extinctions.

            We are excited that the first phase has been completed. This involved stabilization to stop settlement of the structure. This was accomplished with the installation of micro-piles and concrete foundation with stainless steel rods. Also, tie rods were installed just below the barrel-vaulted roof. In order to stabilize the mausoleum, some areas of masonry rebuilding, crack repair and grouting was required. Full restoration of the masonry, stucco, or architectural elements was not included in this phase.
          On behalf of the Trustees and Staff of Magnolia Cemetery Trust we applaud everyone who was involved with this phase of the project: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Bennett Preservation Engineers PC and the Family of the Late Ted Ashton Phillips for a job well done.

A special thanks to the Preservation Society of Charleston and its many volunteers. Without your hard work and dedication this project would not have been possible. We here at Magnolia Cemetery Trust are grateful and look forward to working with you in the future.