Builders Club Students Lauded for Cemetery Restoration

ERMA – Providing a “proper resting place for the veterans who served our country,” the Bethel Union Civil War Veterans Cemetery was dedicated May 24 when politicians, middle school students, community members and others convened to recognize the volunteers who united to clear it after a period of neglect. 
The cleanup of the final resting place of Cape May’s and Lower Township’s first African-American families and black Civil War soldiers was a joint effort. The R. M. Teitelman Middle School’s Builders Club, the Cape May Kiwanis Club, which sponsors the school club, and the Lower Township Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) participated.
Other community members also helped to clear branches, leaves and other objects from the grounds.
“When I look back at pictures of what condition the cemetery was in when we started to how it looks now, it was a real community effort led by the students who made this come together,” said Paul Schulte, a middle school teacher, club advisor.
The group spent at least three workdays clearing the cemetery, and Schulte noted that the club would be there in the fall to rake leaves and continue keeping it cleared.
“We have Rudy VonColln who will be here every two weeks in the summer cutting the grass and keeping an eye on things,” he said. “We still have some more underbrush to clear out, and I do think there are more graves to be found.”
VonColln is a member of the HPC. Another HPC member, Judy Gillis, was also honored at the dedication for her work “above and beyond” to organize the cleanup.
“As a veteran, it’s a pleasure to see all the work that’s been done here and to see that the veterans who served our country have been given a proper resting place,” First District Assemblyman Robert Andrejczak said. He, along with Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman R. Bruce Land (all D-1st) attended, and recognized the community effort and Builders Club.
“It’s great to see people from all different walks of life come together for our veterans,” Van Drew noted. “It is the kids and their spirit that made this come together.”
The cemetery was once the site of the Union Bethel Church and the first black settlement in the area.
Some headstones date to 1834; a stone marks the gravesite of nine black sailors found on Delaware Bay beach in Lower Township after their ship sank in 1850. At least 70 veterans are buried there.
Recognizing the efforts of her classmates, Builders Club President Chloe Lawler said it was “exciting” to see how their hard work had come to fruition.
“We removed fallen trees, rocks and branches,” she added. “People came with their rakes and shovels and backhoe. We’ve created memories that we won’t forget.”
One of Schulte’s goals with the project was to teach students to give back to their community.
“I hope you’ve learned a little bit about giving back to your community,” the teacher said to his students. “The community gives a lot to us; we always need to remember that.”
Builders Club Treasurer Nikolas Frey credited Schulte’s vision with what now is a “place of eloquence” for the veterans. He and Lawler thanked Schulte and their classmates for “sacrificing their time” to clear the grounds.
“As principal of the school,” added Gregory Lasher, “school is not always about tests. This is what school is about.”
Eagle Scout Michael Nolan was also recognized by Lower Township Mayor Erik Simonsen during the dedication. Nolan spent over 200 hours collecting donations, building a walkway with decking and fencing, improving the flag pole and informational sign, clearing weeds and bushes, and planting flowers around the gravestone of the nine sailors as his project to earn the Eagle Scout rank.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.