Community comes together: Many volunteers gather for a quick photo next to the new sign and gate at the Caribou Cemetery’s entrance. PHOTOS BY OMAYRA ACEVEDO[/caption]

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, volunteers gathered at the Caribou Cemetery to continue bringing history to life. They dug holes, poured cement, and erected a 60-foot metal fence with a gate at the cemetery’s entrance.

“We consider this a huge achievement and the end of what we’re calling ‘Phase 1.’ Kind of our first season’s grand finale,” says Silvia Pettem. The first work day of the season was in August, during which volunteers cleared downed trees and debris and cut trees around the cemetery’s perimeter, followed by mapping.

“Sean Kosman, a CU graduate anthropology student, took GPS readings of the known and suspected gravesites, and we returned to photograph each site. We identified a few gravesites by comparing their existing bases with gravestones and bases in historic photos acquired from Boulder’s Carnegie Library, the Denver Public Library, and the Nederland Area Historical Society, ” shares Pettem.

Gravesite mapping continued during a second work day in September when a smooth wire fence was also installed around most of the cemetery.

On the same day, Berry Trucking & Excavating, along with employees from Grand Island Resources, LLC, installed two new stones at the grave of Tom Hendricks. Plans for a plaque for one of the stones and art by daughter and artist Maggi Mae Hendricks, will be part of the Hendricks gravesite.

It all began last winter when Pettem and Julie Annear discussed restoring the cemetery, though it seemed an unattainable dream. They knew replacing the original and historic stones would be impossible, so they did the next best thing. They began to “raise awareness and bring back dignity and respect to the men, women, and children buried there,” shares Pettem.

Pettem and Annear would like to thank Tom French from C & M Iron and Metal, Rich Mittasch, Riley McAllister, and Scotty Bass, all from Grand Island Resources LLC, and Jim Herron, who helped with the installation.

A special thanks goes to Scott Berry and Kenny Berry of Berry Trucking & Excavating of Sedalia, Colorado. The brothers received the donation of the 60-foot metal fence from a neighbor and then donated it to the cemetery.

The Berrys not only donated their time to welding and fabrication but also took the lead in coordinating the fabrication of the arched Caribou Cemetery sign. The men met with designers Jeff and Bobbi Shockey from Wild Iron Art, who created the sign.

Pettem also says, as of now, including Hendricks, there are 38 burials in Caribou Cemetery, although there undoubtedly are more. “Of the 38, we feel confident we have identified 11.” Thirty of the known burials date from 1875 to 1898.

This winter, studies will be conducted on all the data collected, and research on the location of the graves and biographical information will continue. Plans for next summer, Phase 2, include two interpretive signs, site markers, updates to the website, and more.

The cemetery is not only a part of history but a part of many lives in the community. And thanks to Pettem, Annear, and the support of many, Caribou Cemetery is now very much alive.

To learn more about the Caribou Cemetery, visit http://cariboucemetery.com/, or to donate, visit https://www.nederlandareahistoricalsociety.org/support-nahs.