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See the Spring Newsletter to find out about progress and future events. See pictures of our stone setters raising the first gravestones. Pages of interest to those researching their families in the Five Towns area of Nassau County. WALL OF SHAME: More Pictures of the Cemetery. Pictures of some of those who did their part to preserve our history.
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THE LAWRENCE CEMETERY RESTORATION PROJECT a NON-profit ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC LAWRENCE CEMETERY LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE OF Lawrence, Nassau county (FORMERLY QUEENS), NEW YORK. THE LAWRENCE CEMETERY NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Before After  
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Introduction As you know, the Lawrence Cemetery, located at 150
Rockaway Turnpike, Lawrence, New York (next to/across from the old Methodist
Church) has been in horrific disrepair for years. The tombstones date back to
1833 and the founders of the Five Towns area are buried here. We have formed a non-profit organization of
neighbors and local family members who have decided to take action. Enough is
enough with this poor, neglected, forgotten cemetery that our grandparents
and the generations before them chose as their final resting-place. Most of the
gravestones have been vandalized by being defiled by graffiti, knocked over
and/or broken. It has become a haven for vagrants and vandals. It is filled with
litter and debris. We are losing such a vital piece of our local history as this
property has been so sorely neglected and overlooked for decades. In addition,
there is no official record of this cemetery. The condition has become so
horrendous that people, who wanted to be buried with their families in
the Lawrence cemetery, chose not to. We are all in some way historical
descendants of the founders of this great historic 5 towns area. The HICKS,
CRAFT, PETTIT, PEARSALLS, PLAYER, ANDREWS, CARMAN, MOTT, SPRAGUE, RHINEHART,
SMITH, FROST, ABRAMS [ To See Other Surnames
Click Here!] are among the many names in this cemetery. To
date, these names still mark the local streets of the area. Enclosed are
articles from the Nassau Herald dated, 1994 and 2000 which further
describes the condition of this cemetery and the community’s apathy towards
it. Mission Statement With your help, we will be able to complete the
following: 1. Secure both yards with proper fencing and gates to
avoid further trespassing and vandalism; 2. Clean up and remove all debris; 3. Clean, repair and restore all gravestones; 4. Accurately and officially record all of those
buried in Lawrence Cemetery. 5. Establish perpetual maintenance for the cemetery. YOU can help! The present Church (Alliance Christian Missionary) is
unable to repair and maintain the cemetery. They have authorized us to repair
and restore the property in any way possible. While we have sought the
assistance of the Village of Lawrence, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and
the Long Island Rail Road (which runs along side the cemetery), we can only
truly rely on the support of neighbors and family members like you for us to
succeed in this project. Please tell ALL of your family, friends, co-workers,
neighbors and anyone else that may have an interest in this project. We need
volunteers to clean and maintain the area, trim and clear overgrown brush, and
remove litter. We must raise funds and collect donations in order to repair and
restore our local history and our families’ final resting-place. Add anyone and everyone to our mailing list! Please
contact Elyse Craft at (631) 988-3413, fax (631)
864-2845 or emailto:ElvseNY@aol.com Donations and letters can be sent to:
Lawrence Cemetery Restoration Project, Inc. c/o 4 Palmer Lane Commack, NY 11725. Please share your opinions, questions, family
history and stories with us. We hope to hear from you!- Thank you! |