Bristow City Cemetery gets improvements

Over the last couple of months, people across the community have speculated that the Bristow City Cemetery has been expanding to add more plots as equipment movement and groundwork increased along the western boundary. Billy Ledbetter, cemetery caretaker, stated that the expansion’s primary goal was not to add plots but to create maintenance space. He did, however, confirm that additional plots will be created as well, a beneficial byproduct of the new space.

Made possible by donations, the new fencing along the western boundary wraps up the fourth and final phase of cemetery fencing improvements. The final phase focused on moving out the fencing 30 feet, not to create additional plots but to create room, a maintenance road, to safely maneuver the equipment while opening and closing graves; however, the added room for equipment will also allow for an estimated additional 144 graves within the confines of the cemetery’s previous bounds. According to Billy, the newly available plots should be available by Memorial Day for purchase.

Along with the new maintenance space and plots, entrances and exits for maintenance equipment will be created through the construction of two gates. Each of the gates will be located on the north and south ends of the extension area. Champion Fence won the bid from the City and plans to complete the expansion and fencing in time for Memorial Day remembrance activities.

As for the improvements being made possible by donations, the City of Bristow owns and runs the cemetery via traditional funding sources; however, the City also accepts donations made for improvements in conjunction with traditional funding. Examples of a few cemetery improvements afforded by donations include mowers, the small excavator used for digging in areas too small for a backhoe, and fencing or signage repairs and construction. Anyone interested in donating for cemetery improvements should contact Sabrina Mounce at City Hall. New donations will be applied to future improvements.

Speaking of future improvements, Billy says the City hopes to construct and open up a columbarium designed to house cremation remains in 2022. Like mausoleums, columbaria house remains; unlike mausoleums, columbaria house ashes in small niches rather than full bodies in crypts. For cremated remains within funerary urns, columbaria offer economical and efficient alternatives to mausoleums or plot burial as they often cost less and save space. Once constructed, people will be able to purchase a niche within the columbarium rather than having to purchase a plot or mausoleum crypt; although, anyone desiring a plot or crypt may still purchase those options, too.

As visitors embark on journeys in remembrance of loved ones this Memorial Day, improvements ensuring safer, cleaner grounds await at the Bristow City Cemetery. Although visitors’ foci prove dedicated to loved ones, the City of Bristow and Billy hope the recent improvements enhance their comfort and ease of visiting.