(Spencer)– A ceremony will be held this Thursday (June 26th) at 12 Noon to dedicate what’s known as Potter’s Field at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Mike Harleman of Spencer has been overseeing a project to give recognition to those who are interred there. He says to the best of his knowledge, there are about 33 people who’s identities are unknown, who were laid to rest there…
“There was a fire in City Hall many years ago and so a lot of those records were destroyed. The only records we have are probably from 1923 to about 1953, something like that.”
Harleman goes on to explain the significance of Potter’s Field…
“Potter’s Field was a field of clay that potters used, and once the field was not useful for anything else, they decided that they would bury individuals that weren’t able to pay for their funerals and stuff like that, or their graves.”
Harleman says Thursday’s ceremony will begin at 12 Noon at Potter’s Field at Riverside Cemetery…
“Reverend Chris, Methodist Church Arnolds Park, he’ll talk about it at length and the plaque itself that we have for Potter’s Field will give a good definition of what Potter’s Field is.”
Harleman says another project is underway that will also help define the Potter’s Field area of Riverside Cemetery…
“You’ll also see we excavated some ground that we’re going to pour a concrete slab so that in September, the latter part of September, we’ll be able to put a monument on there with the individuals names that we know are there. Also there’s going to be two benches with individuals names that we know are there.”
Harleman says the projects were made possible through donations…
“We got money from people in the county, we got money from people out of the county, we got a lot of money from in Spencer, people from in Spencer. We’re about $1,200 short on paying for the complete. So there’s no city money other than sweat equity for the concrete, there will be no city money on this. It will all be money coming from individuals and businesses.”
Anyone wishing to donate may do so by writing out a check to the Spencer Parks Supporter Foundation, with a notation of Potter’s Field donation. They can be mailed to the Spencer City Hall or dropped off there.
In the event of rain, Thursday’s dedication will be moved indoors to the mausoleum at Riverside Cemetery.
