May 2, 2008
Thanks to the tireless efforts of staff, volunteers, City officials, Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies and the State Historic Preservation Office, we have taken significant steps towards the cleanup and recovery of Oakland Cemetery. The task of restoring an historic landmark after a natural disaster is neither easy nor commonly undertaken. There are no quick answers early on and few definitive answers even weeks later. However, there is hope, there is knowledge, and there is progress.
The tree work has begun and we are working section by section to remove tree debris. All trees have been assessed and we will make Oakland’s tree canopy safe for the public again soon. Once the trees are removed, we will begin the painstaking process of assessing the damage to the monuments, walkways and walls.
The response from the public during this time has been overwhelming. Over 100 people have offered their volunteer service and we will be hosting an Oakland cleanup day soon. If you have already been contacted by us confirming your registration as a recovery volunteer, you will be receiving another communication soon to schedule your service. We cannot get this done without our family of friends and supporters.
If you would like to join Historic Oakland Foundation as a member, please go to our support page to download a membership application.
With your help, we will get though this to make Oakland better, more beautiful and more accessible than ever before.
Historic Oakland Foundation
248 Oakland Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2107
Tree removal by certified arborists at Historic Oakland Cemetery
April 9, 2008
Dear Oakland Friends:
It has been almost a month since the tornado roared through Oakland. Since that time, Historic Oakland Cemetery Foundation has been working hard with the City of Atlanta, the State Historic Preservation Office, and federal and state emergency management personnel to develop a plan for clean up, damage assessment and a schedule for our future restoration. We have received excellent advice, support, and encouragement from all these agencies.
We are hopeful that progress will be made soon in restoring Oakland to not only where it was before March 14th, but to the level of beauty befitting this historic treasure.
So many of you have called, sent cards, and shown up at the gates ready to help and have contributed your dollars towards the Tornado Recovery Fund. We are so thankful and grateful for this outpouring of support. We want so much to be back in the business of welcoming visitors to this wonderful place and are working diligently to make the cemetery safe, accessible and ready to be used again as the important green space that it is.
Unfortunately, our closure to the public means that April’s guided tours, the April 19th Lecture Series, and the April 2nd Saturdays work day are cancelled. Please bear with us for a few more weeks and keep checking our Web site for any updates as to when we will reopen.
In the meantime please mark your calendars to watch the replay of WSB television’s special, “Beyond the Grave: Stories from Oakland Cemetery” this Saturday, April 12th at five o’clock.
Thank you again for your thoughts, prayers, and financial support. We especially appreciate your willingness to “roll up your sleeves” when Oakland is given the clearance for you to do so!!
March 27, 2008
Since the tornado, many of you have asked how you can volunteer at Oakland. Many of you have inquired as to when the gates will be open. Historic Oakland Cemetery Foundation is working closely with the City of Atlanta and the Parks Department to finalize the plans for Oakland’s cleanup and recovery. We will be able to give definitive answers to these important questions soon.
The first priority is to make Oakland safe from falling trees and limbs. Walls, walkways and monuments cannot be repaired until the trees above are inspected and either pruned or removed. Crews of arborists and other professionals are working in almost every section of the cemetery right now to make the park safe. However, it would slow the work and risk personal safety to have unsupervised visitors at Oakland right now. We ask for your patience and your support during these initial stages of cleanup.
Once we are able to use volunteers on the grounds, there will be other volunteer opportunities available. We may need debris cleanup, landscaping, visitor services, administrative and fundraising volunteers.
We have also added a convenience for our donors who would like to donate to our Tornado Recovery Fund: you can make a donation online! The PayPal link is at the lower right hand side of every page of our Web site. If you would like to join the Foundation as a member, please go to our Support page, download the Membership Form and mail it to our offices at:
Historic Oakland Foundation
248 Oakland Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Thank you all for caring about Historic Oakland Cemetery. Keep checking this Web site for updates. With your help, we will bring Oakland back to life.
March 20, 2008
Over the last several days, we have assessed the situation and are waiting on the go ahead from state and federal agencies to begin cleanup. Removing mature trees as large and as damaged as these is a dangerous process and until it is completed, we will be closed to visitors. After much deliberation, we have suspended our tour and visitor services program for the time being. We anticipate being open to the public, resuming the tour program and re-opening the visitor’s center within a matter of weeks. Please check our Web site often for updates.
Volunteers have been very generous in their offers of time. We will be using volunteers during the cleanup but it may be several weeks before we are able to coordinate the projects for which you are greatly needed. Please contact our office at 404-688-2107 to register.
Until then, the best way to help Oakland at this time is through financial support. We appeal to all of you to donate to Historic Oakland Foundation at a level at which you are comfortable. Your gift of any amount will allow Oakland to get back to normal as soon as possible. We need you now more than ever.
Donations may be sent to:
Historic Oakland Foundation
248 Oakland Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
We also accept donations online:
March 17, 2008
As you can see from the photos below, Historic Oakland Cemetery sustained major damage during Friday's tornado. This has been a major setback, and while we were not expecting this, we are in the process of restoring Oakland to its full use as quickly as possible and with the utmost sensitivity to the historic treasure that was almost lost. We have city personnel, GEMA and FEMA representatives, Georgia Power crews, professional arborists and preservationists, trained volunteers and staff working within the gates. Our offices currently do not have phone service or power so we are not able to be as accessible as we would like to be.
For your safety and the safety of Oakland, our gates are temporarily closed to visitors. Your kind offers to help move trees and clear walkways have touched us all. However, due to FEMA regulations, the delicate nature of this work, and the extensive damage to monuments and walls, we are only using veteran professionals at this time.
We do need the help of our members, volunteers, neighbors and friends. In the coming days and weeks, we will be calling upon volunteer groups to help with cleanup however; we need to stabilize the situation first. We anticipate restoring our tour program shortly so please continue to check the Web site for updates.
The best way to help Oakland at this time is through financial support. We appeal to all of you to donate to Historic Oakland Foundation at a level at which you are comfortable. Your unrestricted gift of any amount will allow Oakland to get back to normal as soon as possible. We need you now more than ever.
Donations may be sent to:
Historic Oakland Foundation
248 Oakland Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
We also accept donations online:
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| Photos by Dinny Addison and Julia Fare | |