CEMETERY INFORMATION
McDONALD
MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Location
The cemetery is located at 406 Broadway Street. It is approximately
one-half mile from the St. Clair River on Lambton County # 1 (Lambton Line) just
east of the Village of Port Lambton. It is open year round and has grave sites
available to all.
Contact
Information
For further information please contact:
Barb Kay: 519-627-4514
Bonnie Authier: 519-677-4496
George or Bev Bradley: 519-677-4445
Barrie Davis: 519-677-5330
Barb Kay: 519-627-4514
Bonnie Authier: 519-677-4496
George or Bev Bradley: 519-677-4445
Barrie Davis: 519-677-5330
Fees
Current Prices (subject to change):
1 Grave:
$660.00
1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Grave (formerly Perpetual Care Fund):
$440.00
Total for 1 Grave and 1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Grave:
$1100
1 Excavation (full burial):
$700.00
1 Excavation (full burial) After 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, Weekends and holidays:
$1050.00
1 Excavation (cremation) maximum opening size 20” x 12”:
$250.00
Marking for 1 headstone:
$100.00
1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Marker:
$50.00
1 Grave:
$660.00
1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Grave (formerly Perpetual Care Fund):
$440.00
Total for 1 Grave and 1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Grave:
$1100
1 Excavation (full burial):
$700.00
1 Excavation (full burial) After 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, Weekends and holidays:
$1050.00
1 Excavation (cremation) maximum opening size 20” x 12”:
$250.00
Marking for 1 headstone:
$100.00
1 Care & Maintenance Fund - Marker:
$50.00
History
Prior to 1918 the front portion of the
cemetery was used to inter members and friends of the McDonald family. With the
passing of Mr. John Duncan McDonald on the thirteenth of November, 1918,
approximately seven acres of land described as:
"All and singular that certain parcel or tract of land and premises
situate, lying and being in the Township of Sombra, in the County of Lambton
and Province of Ontario and being composed of Part of Lot "E" in the
Seventh Concession of the said Township of Sombra, described as follows:
Commencing at the South East corner of said Lot "E", thence West four
chains, thence North sixteen chains and six links, thence East four chains,
thence South sixteen chains and six links to the place of beginning and
containing six and one-half acres for Cemetery purposes reserving all Lots sold
or occupied and also reserving sufficient ground therein for myself and my
family, referring to the family of the said John Duncan McDonald."
This was deeded by will to Port Lambton Methodist Church for use as a cemetery.
In 1925, with the creation of the United Church of Canada (by the union of the
Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches), the cemetery became the
responsibility of Port Lambton United Church.
The Cemetery has a Board of Trustees as well as a Secretary and Treasurer and
has operated under this structure since 1929. The cemetery minutes read much
like a log of the local families containing the names of many well known
residents of this area of Sombra Township. A tour of the cemetery and reading
of the headstones provides a glimpse back into history of many families no
longer in this area as well as many present families.
The cemetery is run as a non-denominational cemetery and accepts people of all
faiths as well as no faith. Many of the old traditions are still practiced
unless requested otherwise by the family. The husband is usually buried to the
right (South) of his wife (to defend his mate in time of trouble by freeing his
right arm) and all heads are placed in the West end of the grave (when Christ
returns he is to come from the East so the spiritual body will rise facing
Him).
Currently three and one-half acres are being used for burials and this area
will suffice for some time into the future. Four acres at the rear are leased
yearly to a local farmer for crops.
"All and singular that certain parcel or tract of land and premises situate, lying and being in the Township of Sombra, in the County of Lambton and Province of Ontario and being composed of Part of Lot "E" in the Seventh Concession of the said Township of Sombra, described as follows: Commencing at the South East corner of said Lot "E", thence West four chains, thence North sixteen chains and six links, thence East four chains, thence South sixteen chains and six links to the place of beginning and containing six and one-half acres for Cemetery purposes reserving all Lots sold or occupied and also reserving sufficient ground therein for myself and my family, referring to the family of the said John Duncan McDonald."
This was deeded by will to Port Lambton Methodist Church for use as a cemetery. In 1925, with the creation of the United Church of Canada (by the union of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches), the cemetery became the responsibility of Port Lambton United Church.
The Cemetery has a Board of Trustees as well as a Secretary and Treasurer and has operated under this structure since 1929. The cemetery minutes read much like a log of the local families containing the names of many well known residents of this area of Sombra Township. A tour of the cemetery and reading of the headstones provides a glimpse back into history of many families no longer in this area as well as many present families.
The cemetery is run as a non-denominational cemetery and accepts people of all faiths as well as no faith. Many of the old traditions are still practiced unless requested otherwise by the family. The husband is usually buried to the right (South) of his wife (to defend his mate in time of trouble by freeing his right arm) and all heads are placed in the West end of the grave (when Christ returns he is to come from the East so the spiritual body will rise facing Him).
Currently three and one-half acres are being used for burials and this area will suffice for some time into the future. Four acres at the rear are leased yearly to a local farmer for crops.
BY-LAWS AND
REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE McDONALD MEMORIAL CEMETERY
406 BROADWAY STREET
PORT LAMBTON, ONTARIO
Approved by the Board of Trustees
APRIL 24, 2009
Approved by Cemeteries Branch,
Ministry of Government Services
OCTOBER 26, 2009
ARTICLE I
The cemetery shall be known and designated as the McDonald Memorial Cemetery,
the ownership of which is vested in the Trustees of the United Church, Port
Lambton, Ontario, by deed given by the late John D. McDonald.
ARTICLE II
a) The business of this cemetery shall be conducted by a Board of Trustees,
hereinafter referred to as the Board and consisting of six or more members,
elected or appointed by the cemetery lot owners or the Board of Trustees of the
Port Lambton United Church or a combination of both. The selected
members shall act for a life term except in case of resignation, removal, or
dismissal.
b) The annual meeting of this Board shall be at the call of the
Chairman and the time and location of the meeting shall be communicated to all
members.
c) Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be held pursuant to
adjournment or by special call of the Chairman or at the request of him by
three or more members.
d) Order of Business at regular meetings shall be as follows:
i) reading by the Secretary of minutes of previous meeting and confirming by
majority present;
ii) action on any unfinished business and former notices;
iii) report of all money received and expenditures;
iv) reading and referring communications and memorials;
v) notice of motions;
vi) reports of committees;
vii) new and miscellaneous business.
ARTICLE III
Duties of the Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at regular and special meetings of the Board, and
execute, jointly with the Secretary, all deeds and contracts. He shall also
certify or countersign minutes of meetings. In absence of the Chairman, the
Board shall appoint another member of the Board as Chairman Pro-Tem.
ARTICLE IV
Duties of the Secretary
The Secretary shall attend all meetings and record all proceedings in a Minute
Book purchased by the Board and keep such other books and records as may be
authorized by the Board. The books and records shall be the property of the
McDonald Memorial Cemetery Board and open to inspection by the Trustee Board of
the United Church, Port Lambton, Ontario, or the various lot owners by
appointment. He shall maintain and update all records as required. He shall sign, in
conjunction with the Chairman, all conveyances to lot owners, cemetery
contracts, or other instruments. In the absence of the Secretary, a substitute
may be appointed by the Board.
ARTICLE V
Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall attend all meetings and shall have entered in the minutes
all money received and expenditures made up to the time of such meeting, and
shall file annual reports with the Board and also with the Church Board at its
annual meeting.
ARTICLE VI
a) No lot shall be used for any purpose other than as a place of burial of
deceased persons.
b) Permission from the Secretary or a person acting on his behalf and with approval
of the Board must be obtained before any burial is permitted.
c) A burial permit or certificate of cremation is required before an interment
can be conducted.
d) No interment will be allowed until all fees (Grave and Care & Maintenance Fund) have
been fully paid.
e) All burials in the area between the roads will require the use of a concrete
vault approved by the Board or the Secretary of the Board. An area on
the west side of the west road and on the east side of the east road has been
set aside for those wishing burial without such vaults.
f) Board approval is required for more than two (2) cremated remains to be interred in a single grave.
g) At times during the December to May period burial may not be possible or
practical and at such times, as decided by the Board, the use of a Mausoleum
crypt or other suitable storage of the body will be required. The arrangements and cost of such
storage shall be the responsibility of the estate of the deceased. The Board
will endeavour to inter at all times of the year.
h) Burial in Lot # 157 (Veterans’ Plot) requires the approval of either the
Secretary acting on behalf of the Board or any three members of the Board.
ARTICLE VII
a) No tree or shrub that will attain over four feet in height may be planted in
the cemetery.
b) The indiscriminate planting of trees and shrubs in the cemetery shall not be
allowed and it shall be the duty of the Board to have all unapproved features
to the landscape removed. If trees or shrubs in any lot become detrimental
to adjacent lots or walkways, they shall be removed by the Board and all charges
for such removal shall be charged against the owner(s) of the grave plot(s).
c) No improvement will be permitted on any lot until all the fees (Care & Maintenance Fund) have been fully paid.
d) No enclosure shall be allowed around any lot or grave.
e) Lot owners desiring to improve their own lots must receive approval from the Board before proceeding with any work.
f) No tomb or vault shall be erected in the cemetery except on lots which the
Board may designate nor until the plan thereof shall have been submitted to and
approved by the Board.
g) All corner markers shall not exceed six (6) inches square and must be inserted inside the boundary lines of the owner’s lot. Such markers must not disturb the markers installed by the Board.
h) All blankets, flowers, or urns left in the cemetery will be removed from the grave once it is felt they have reached the point of being detrimental to the appearance of the cemetery.
i) To help keep visitors and workers safe and to ease grass cutting and trimming, no glass containers, solar lights, etc., may be placed in the cemetery.
ARTICLE VIII
Headstones and Monuments
a) Permission must be obtained from the Secretary, acting on behalf of the Board, to erect headstones or monuments in the cemetery.
b) No headstone or monument may be erected until one year after interment.
c) All headstones or monuments shall be located at the west end of the graves.
d) All monuments or headstones shall be firmly secured on solid foundations so as to prevent any shifting of the stone. The foundation will project far enough on every side (minimum of three (3) inches) and will be level with the ground so as to permit the unobstructed use of lawn mowers. All foundations shall extend below frost level and shall be sufficient to firmly support the headstone or monument for its life. No floating foundations will be permitted.
e) No monument or headstone shall be over eighteen (18) inches in height from the top surface of the foundation (grade level) nor less than eight (8) inches in width.
f) All caps, urns, or other monumental ornaments must be firmly secured. Inscriptions or effigies deemed offensive or improper will not be permitted.
ARTICLE IX
Visitors
a) All visitors are expected to respect the solemnity of the cemetery and to maintain quietness and good order. There must be no refreshments on the grounds, no hunting is allowed, and children must be under the guidance of some responsible person. No animals, leashed or otherwise, are allowed in the cemetery.
b) All persons are asked to refrain from picking flowers or breaking or injuring any shrub or tree. Writing or marking upon or defacing any monument or landmark is forbidden.
c) It shall be the duty of any property owner to report any damage or misconduct in the cemetery to a member of the Board.
The cemetery shall be known and designated as the McDonald Memorial Cemetery, the ownership of which is vested in the Trustees of the United Church, Port Lambton, Ontario, by deed given by the late John D. McDonald.
ARTICLE II
a) The business of this cemetery shall be conducted by a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board and consisting of six or more members, elected or appointed by the cemetery lot owners or the Board of Trustees of the Port Lambton United Church or a combination of both. The selected members shall act for a life term except in case of resignation, removal, or dismissal.
b) The annual meeting of this Board shall be at the call of the Chairman and the time and location of the meeting shall be communicated to all members.
c) Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be held pursuant to adjournment or by special call of the Chairman or at the request of him by three or more members.
d) Order of Business at regular meetings shall be as follows:
i) reading by the Secretary of minutes of previous meeting and confirming by majority present;
ii) action on any unfinished business and former notices;
iii) report of all money received and expenditures;
iv) reading and referring communications and memorials;
v) notice of motions;
vi) reports of committees;
vii) new and miscellaneous business.
ARTICLE III
Duties of the Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at regular and special meetings of the Board, and execute, jointly with the Secretary, all deeds and contracts. He shall also certify or countersign minutes of meetings. In absence of the Chairman, the Board shall appoint another member of the Board as Chairman Pro-Tem.
ARTICLE IV
Duties of the Secretary
The Secretary shall attend all meetings and record all proceedings in a Minute Book purchased by the Board and keep such other books and records as may be authorized by the Board. The books and records shall be the property of the McDonald Memorial Cemetery Board and open to inspection by the Trustee Board of the United Church, Port Lambton, Ontario, or the various lot owners by appointment. He shall maintain and update all records as required. He shall sign, in conjunction with the Chairman, all conveyances to lot owners, cemetery contracts, or other instruments. In the absence of the Secretary, a substitute may be appointed by the Board.
ARTICLE V
Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall attend all meetings and shall have entered in the minutes all money received and expenditures made up to the time of such meeting, and shall file annual reports with the Board and also with the Church Board at its annual meeting.
ARTICLE VI
a) No lot shall be used for any purpose other than as a place of burial of deceased persons.
b) Permission from the Secretary or a person acting on his behalf and with approval of the Board must be obtained before any burial is permitted.
c) A burial permit or certificate of cremation is required before an interment can be conducted.
d) No interment will be allowed until all fees (Grave and Care & Maintenance Fund) have been fully paid.
e) All burials in the area between the roads will require the use of a concrete vault approved by the Board or the Secretary of the Board. An area on the west side of the west road and on the east side of the east road has been set aside for those wishing burial without such vaults.
f) Board approval is required for more than two (2) cremated remains to be interred in a single grave.
g) At times during the December to May period burial may not be possible or practical and at such times, as decided by the Board, the use of a Mausoleum crypt or other suitable storage of the body will be required. The arrangements and cost of such storage shall be the responsibility of the estate of the deceased. The Board will endeavour to inter at all times of the year.
h) Burial in Lot # 157 (Veterans’ Plot) requires the approval of either the Secretary acting on behalf of the Board or any three members of the Board.
ARTICLE VII
a) No tree or shrub that will attain over four feet in height may be planted in the cemetery.
b) The indiscriminate planting of trees and shrubs in the cemetery shall not be allowed and it shall be the duty of the Board to have all unapproved features to the landscape removed. If trees or shrubs in any lot become detrimental to adjacent lots or walkways, they shall be removed by the Board and all charges for such removal shall be charged against the owner(s) of the grave plot(s).
c) No improvement will be permitted on any lot until all the fees (Care & Maintenance Fund) have been fully paid.
d) No enclosure shall be allowed around any lot or grave.
e) Lot owners desiring to improve their own lots must receive approval from the Board before proceeding with any work.
f) No tomb or vault shall be erected in the cemetery except on lots which the Board may designate nor until the plan thereof shall have been submitted to and approved by the Board.
g) All corner markers shall not exceed six (6) inches square and must be inserted inside the boundary lines of the owner’s lot. Such markers must not disturb the markers installed by the Board.
h) All blankets, flowers, or urns left in the cemetery will be removed from the grave once it is felt they have reached the point of being detrimental to the appearance of the cemetery.
i) To help keep visitors and workers safe and to ease grass cutting and trimming, no glass containers, solar lights, etc., may be placed in the cemetery.
ARTICLE VIII
Headstones and Monuments
a) Permission must be obtained from the Secretary, acting on behalf of the Board, to erect headstones or monuments in the cemetery.
b) No headstone or monument may be erected until one year after interment.
c) All headstones or monuments shall be located at the west end of the graves.
d) All monuments or headstones shall be firmly secured on solid foundations so as to prevent any shifting of the stone. The foundation will project far enough on every side (minimum of three (3) inches) and will be level with the ground so as to permit the unobstructed use of lawn mowers. All foundations shall extend below frost level and shall be sufficient to firmly support the headstone or monument for its life. No floating foundations will be permitted.
e) No monument or headstone shall be over eighteen (18) inches in height from the top surface of the foundation (grade level) nor less than eight (8) inches in width.
f) All caps, urns, or other monumental ornaments must be firmly secured. Inscriptions or effigies deemed offensive or improper will not be permitted.
ARTICLE IX
Visitors
a) All visitors are expected to respect the solemnity of the cemetery and to maintain quietness and good order. There must be no refreshments on the grounds, no hunting is allowed, and children must be under the guidance of some responsible person. No animals, leashed or otherwise, are allowed in the cemetery.
b) All persons are asked to refrain from picking flowers or breaking or injuring any shrub or tree. Writing or marking upon or defacing any monument or landmark is forbidden.
c) It shall be the duty of any property owner to report any damage or misconduct in the cemetery to a member of the Board.