Rose Hill Cemetery Committee Chairperson Joe Dumire presented good news at the last Thomas City Council meeting. The cemetery endowment fund recently received a $1,000 donation. “As of today, the balance is up to $4,305.86,” Dumire said.
Dumire reported the committee plans to move money from the general ledger account to the endowment fund. “We are gradually making some progress, and I’m real pleased to report that,” Dumire said
Dumire added more good news, which is the cemetery will also receive a new sign. The Pete Milkin estate contributed $1,000 toward the new sign.
A short summary of the cemetery’s history will be included on the sign:
“Rose Hill Cemetery was established on April 1, 1910 with an initial gift to the City of Thomas of 2.5 acres of land from West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railway (later Western Maryland railway), owned by Senator Henry Gassaway Davis. Burials at Rose Hill include those of many faiths including Catholic, Hebrew, Methodist and Presbyterian. Burials also include former employees of Davis Coal & Coke Co., West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh railway, and the Western Maryland Railway as well as educators, judges, merchants, doctors, ministers, military veterans and others. Rose Hill was originally called Pase Hill in honor of Jacob Christian Pase, who in 1880 was the first settler in Thomas.”
A permanent endowment fund for the perpetual care of Rose Hill has been established through the Tucker Community Foundation with an initial deposit of $2,000 from the City of Thomas. Donations are being accepted for the growth of this fund, with all donations being tax deductible under 501(c)(3) guidelines.
The Cemetery Endowment Fund will be used for regular maintenance, including landscape work and the upkeep of roads, removing dead trees and stumps, and resetting damaged headstones. “I think we’re going to get some very valuable work done this year,” Dumire said.
The fund may also be used for future cemetery land expansion through the purchase of land and clearing of land.
The current cost is $150 per lot, with a two-lot minimum. Of the $150, $100 goes to the Permanent Endowment Fund for perpetual care.
The undertaker charges $475 to open a grave and passes this on to the city of Thomas. The city then pays $425 to the company who opens the grave, and deposits the remaining $50 into the City’s cemetery fund. Lacking the sufficient funds to run the cemetery, the endowment fund covers the additional costs.
Donations may be sent to Tucker Community Foundation, 737 William Ave. Suite 1, Davis, West Virginia 26260. Include “Rose Hill Cemetery Fund” on the memo line of your check.