The Founding of CHCO
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization was founded in May of 1983 by current President Edward W. Taylor Jr. and the late Katherine M. Wolford (pictured below). The first activity was a tour to visit historic graves of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery located on Fayette St., Cumberland. This was held during the towns annual historic festival Heritage Days. This festival is always held the second weekend in June. The CHCO began to grow in membership.
Our Mission & Purpose
CHCO has a great mission. To erect and restore monuments. Give tours and promote cemetery history. Pray for and honor the deceased.
To date the CHCO has erected and restored hundreds of monuments. The CHCO believes that as much information as possible should be engraved on a monument. This is for future generations to know as much about the dead as possible. The monuments are located in area cemeteries and as far away as Micanopy, FL, at the Historic Micanopy Cemetery.
The CHCO Seal
The seal of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization was designed by the late co-found of the organization Katherine M. Wolford. The organization became affiliated with St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Cumberland in 1988. Katherine went to the cemetery an painted a historic scene. It included some of the most historic and beautiful monuments with the Cumberland Narrows in the background. Since that time the seal has been placed on the organization flag, all CHCO literature and all monuments erected by the organization.
Photo: Last photo taken in 1995 of founders of the CHCO Katherine M. Wolford and Edward W. Taylor Jr. with the organization banner.