Daviess County Commissioner Nathan Gabhart has announced that the Oak Grove Cemetery has been taken over by a a local non profit group.
The Oak Grove Caretakers says they are thrilled to be able to restore the cemetery back to the way quote “we know it can look.” The group’s three board members are Joe Bean, Rene Bean and Phil Heymann.
Gabhart says they’ve been working on the acquisition for three years and called it one of the most convoluted issues he’s dealt with. The cemetery was privately owned and the county was limited on resources to assist. Had the cemetery had been abandoned the county would’ve been responsible for maintenance. Gabhart says residents should be grateful as the Oak Grove Caretakers have prevented an ongoing 30 to $50,000 expense to maintain the cemetery. The cemetery’s dilapidated condition has been the subject of many in the community for some time. Gabhart says Oak Grove was the largest cemetery in state history to have fallen to its current condition.
Volunteers and donations are being sought as the group is starting with nothing. Information meetings will be held in the future to educate the public on the opportunities to assist. Anyone wanting to help or donate can contact the Oak Grove Caretakers at PO Box 2306 Washington. Donations can be made at any German American Bank in the name of Oak Grove Caretakers.