Episode 54 - Eastern Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky
In this episode Jennie and Dianne are joined by Andy Harpole and Savannah Darr of the Friends of Eastern Cemetery and by fellow podcaster Liz Clappin of the "Tomb with a View" podcast to discuss the story of Eastern Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky and how its friend's group is helping it to survive. This episode was inspired by the documentary "Facing East", which was released in 2020 by Ronin Noir Films and tells the Ordinary Extraordinary story of the most over buried commercial cemetery in America.
For more information on Eastern Cemetery, visit their website at: https://friendsofeasterncemetery.com/
The following platforms provide streaming of the film "Facing East", by Ronin Noir Films : Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu, Dish, Google Play, and XBox. Some cable providers are also providing access to the film.
Andy Harpole
President of Friends of Eastern Cemetery
Friends of Eastern Cemetery became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit group in 2014. Our board members include Andy Harpole, president; Savannah Darr, vice president; and Amy Wright, secretary; and Stefanie Buzan, treasurer. We currently have two committees: the Arts and Crafts Committee and the Event Planning and Coordination Committee.
The Friends of Eastern Cemetery have served as an example to other groups who are looking to either clean a historic cemetery or create a “friends of” non-profit group. Taking their extensive training, Andy Harpole and Savannah Darr have spoken with members of the Louisville Genealogical Society, Samuel Plato Academy, and Gallatin County Public Library about the basics of cemetery preservation, including the right and wrong ways to clean stones. Andy and Savannah have also encouraged those groups to attend future workshops, so that they can start preserving and restoring cemeteries in their communities. Furthermore, they have provided contacts, such as Jonathan Appell and National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and materials so that these groups do not harm those cemeteries that they wish to help.
Savannah Darr
Vice President of Friends of Eastern Cemetery
Friends of Eastern Cemetery became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit group in 2014. Our board members include Andy Harpole, president; Savannah Darr, vice president; and Amy Wright, secretary; and Stefanie Buzan, treasurer. We currently have two committees: the Arts and Crafts Committee and the Event Planning and Coordination Committee.
The Friends of Eastern Cemetery have served as an example to other groups who are looking to either clean a historic cemetery or create a “friends of” non-profit group. Taking their extensive training, Andy Harpole and Savannah Darr have spoken with members of the Louisville Genealogical Society, Samuel Plato Academy, and Gallatin County Public Library about the basics of cemetery preservation, including the right and wrong ways to clean stones. Andy and Savannah have also encouraged those groups to attend future workshops, so that they can start preserving and restoring cemeteries in their communities. Furthermore, they have provided contacts, such as Jonathan Appell and National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and materials so that these groups do not harm those cemeteries that they wish to help.
Liz Clappin
Host of Tomb with a View Podcast
Liz Clappin is an architectural historian based in Atlanta, GA. She has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Rhode Island and an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Architectural History. A board member for the Association for Gravestone Studies, since 2019 she has hosted Tomb with a View Podcast focusing on the history and preservation of American cemeteries.