PITTSTON — History repeated itself last weekend as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows returned to the Pittston Cemetery to aid in lawn care.
Pittston Cemetery was created with the first person laid to rest in 1857 by the Pittston Odd Fellows. The Odd Fellows originated from laborers who set out to relieve the distressed and educate the underprivileged. The earliest recording of the society was 1748.
“The cemetery was started by the Odd Fellows in 1857 and it started on four acres donated by the Pennsylvania Coal Co.,” said Ron Faraday, president of the Pittston Historical Society and a new member of the Odd Fellows. “In 1885, it was taken over by the Pittston Cemetery Association.”
Benjamin Harding was the first president of the cemetery association who, according to Faraday, was also the third mayor of Pittston City.
The current layout of the cemetery expanded from the original four acres to 17 acres where approximately 10,000 people are buried.
Lawn maintenance by the Odd Fellows was postponed by a week this year when rain hit Greater Pittston. A half dozen volunteers cut grass and weed whacked in time for Memorial Day.
Odd Fellow members Jim Falzone and Len Pribula cut grass while Pribula’s 10-year-old daughter Petra trimmed around tombstones.
“I didn’t need to ask twice,” Pribula said. “Petra was ready to volunteer.”
According to cemetery caretaker Bob Arye, prior to him taking on that job, the cemetery was unrecognizable.
“When I first started, I was appalled; the conditions of the grounds were beyond belief,” Ayre said. “Ron and the historical society came in and did an initial cleanup the year before, but most of the cemetery was unrecognizable. Ron and the historical society did a good job but most of it grew back in.”
Over the last two years, Ayre has been chipping away at trimming trees and bushes and performing general maintenance after portions of the cemetery had been cleared.
According to Ayre, the cemetery was known as Pittston Odd Fellows Cemetery as well as Pittston Protestant Cemetery.
There is a small section where a number of Jewish people are buried. “Many of the Jewish people were merchants in Pittston,” Ayre said.
It’s taken all of the two-plus years Ayre has been at the job to get the cemetery presentable as being a one-person organization is not easy.
“Bill Gladish, Pittston Cemetery board president, and I are always looking out for help with keeping the cemetery in good shape,” Ayre said. “Volunteers are pretty hard to come by and I’m usually doing this by myself.”
Ayre is hoping organizations like the Odd Fellows and others will continue to come forward to help. “The Odd Fellows coming back to help has come full circle and I’m hoping we can continue a new tradition.”
Whether you belong to a civic organization or not, caretaker Ayre will gladly use your help. “We are always looking for financial donates to help with maintenance costs,” Ayre added.
To volunteer or to donate to the Pittston Cemetery Association, you can reach Bob at 570-815-3623 or you can leave a message when calling the cemetery phone number at 570-655-0931.
The Pittston Cemetery is a gem and Bob Ayre is doing his best to preserve history in Pittston.
