Historical Walk, Spring Grove Cemetery
Jun
21

Historical Walk, Spring Grove Cemetery

Join Friends of the Cemetery at 1:00 PM on June 21 for the annual Historical Walk. We will host a guided tour of Spring Grove Cemetery and reveal some of the interesting stories of notable and historic Medina citizens. Meet at Spring Grove Chapel.

For additional information email info@friendsofmedinacemetery.org or call the Friends of the Cemetery office at 330-591-4870.

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Annual Photo Contest
Sep
1
to Oct 25

Annual Photo Contest

We are pleased to announce our sponsorship of the fourth annual amateur photo contest. This year, we are expanding the competition to include photographs taken at Old Town Graveyard. We're excited to see the various photo perspectives captured at historic Old Town!  Last year’s contest received a great response, and our panel of judges faced a tough challenge in selecting just one winner for each category: ages 12 and under, 13 to 17, and 18 and up. The contest will run from September 1 to October 25, 2025. Any amateur photographer can submit one photo capturing the landscape, still life, animal or plant life, and/or architecture of either Spring Grove Cemetery or Old Town Graveyard. Winners will be notified by November 1, 2025, and prizes will be awarded on November 9, 2025. The contest registration form and rules will be available on our website starting September 1, 2025. We will share flyers about the contest on social media and at local storefronts. Be sure to join in the fun this year!

 

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Members’ Meeting
Sep
7

Members’ Meeting

The Friends of the Cemetery Annual Members’ Meeting will be held at the Spring Grove Chapel on Sunday, September 7 at 2:00 p.m.

We are pleased and honored to welcome Mr. Paul LaRue, a retired social studies teacher from Washington Court House City Schools, as our guest speaker. He has received numerous state and national teaching awards, including the Ohio DAR American History Teacher of the Year, the American Legion Ohio Educator of the Year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Teacher of the Year, the History Channel’s First Place in Innovation in History Education, Time Warner’s National Teacher Award, and the African American Civil War Memorial Teacher of the Year. Paul served on the Ohio Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and the Ohio World War 1 Centennial Committee. Currently, Paul serves as co-chair of the America 250-Ohio K-12 Education Committee and is President of the State of Ohio Board of Education.

Paul will talk to us about the significance of preserving historic cemeteries, the importance of recounting our connection to the Underground Railroad, and ways to educate our children about both. He will also discuss how we can engage our community in the America 250 commemoration and the necessity of teaching our children about it. Be sure to note this significant and timely meeting on your calendar, as it is one you will not want to miss!

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Friends' Achievements Walkabout at Spring Grove
Sep
28

Friends' Achievements Walkabout at Spring Grove

Join us on Sunday, September 28, at 1:00 p.m. for an engaging walkabout at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. Friends Board members will lead the way, highlighting the incredible achievements we've accomplished over the past 28 years in beautification, historic preservation, and the maintenance of Spring Grove. We've made significant strides that enhance the beauty of our surroundings, some of which are readily visible, while others may be more subtle but equally important. We will meet at the chapel. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Arboretum Walk
Oct
18

Arboretum Walk

The annual Spring Grove Arboretum Walk is set for Saturday, October 18, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Mears office building. This year, we will showcase the fourteen new tree species planted at Spring Grove last fall. Last year’s walk was a great success, with about 100 participants enjoying sunny, 70-degree weather, and we hope this year’s event will be equally well attended with similarly pleasant weather! We will provide maps for the walk, a scavenger hunt for those who wish to participate, and complimentary bottled water. The walk is also a wonderful opportunity to snap a photo for our Annual Photo Contest. As always, the Arboretum Walk is a free event open to the public. It is wheelchair, stroller, wagon, and pet friendly as well!

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Arboretum Walk
Oct
19

Arboretum Walk

The 2024 Arboretum Walk will be held on Saturday, October 19th at 2:00 starting from the Mears Building in Spring Grove Cemetery. This is a free event and is family, pet, wheelchair, wagon and stroller friendly! The walk will be held rain or shine – see you there!

For additional information email info@friendsofmedinacemetery.org or call the Friends of the Cemetery office at 330-591-4870.

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Annual Photo Contest
Sep
1
to Oct 25

Annual Photo Contest

Any amateur photographer may enter one original photograph of his/her choice that captures the serenity and beauty of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum’s landscape, still life, animal and plant life, and/or architecture.

There will be one winner from each of the following age categories:

  • 12 years & under

  • 13 years to 17 years

  • Adult (18 years and older)

Deadline:  October 25, 2024.  Email submissions to friendsofmedinacemetery@gmail.com on or before October 25, 2024.


Download registration form here:


*For smart phones download to fill*

CONTEST RULES

• Contest Organizers: This Photo Contest (“Contest”) is presented by the Friends of the Cemetery, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (the “Organizers”).

  • Photos should capture the serenity and beauty of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum.  The mood may range from somber to uplifting, but should avoid being overly morbid or morose.

  • Content: Photos should capture landscapes, still life, animal and plant life, and/or architecture within Spring Grove. Photos should not contain human beings, or violent or obscene imagery.

  • Size/Format: Photos must be submitted as digital images and sized at least 1 MB. Photos must be at least 300 dpi at actual size, saved as .jpg/.png/.tiff. [Minor digital touchups are acceptable, but photos should not overly rely on filters, distortion, or photo editing.]

  • Repeat Entries: Limit of 1 photo per participant may be submitted for the Contest and must be accompanied by a Registration Form.

  • Judging Criteria:

    • Quality, composition, and content;

    • Creativity and originality;

    • Impact.

  • Submission Deadlines: Photos may be submitted up until midnight Eastern Standard Time on October 25, 2023 (“Deadline”).

Winners will be notified by:  November 15, 2024.

  • Age Requirement: This Contest is open to all legal U.S. residents who are amateur photographers and are 18 years of age or older or those under 18 who have the express consent of a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians of minors must agree to sign any required releases. Age categories are:

  • Adult – 18 years and older

  • 13 years – 17 years

  • 12 years and under

  • Work Must Be Original: You must be the photographer and own all rights to the Entry. The photo should not contain any symbols, designs, images, characters, or other content protected by another’s copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights. If your image infringes upon another's copyright, it will be disqualified. Upon submitting to this Contest, you represent that you created the Entry and have the sole rights to use it and to grant us a license to use it. You are solely responsible for any infringement on copyrighted or trademarked materials and will indemnify and hold the Organizers harmless from any and all claims of the same which may be asserted by third parties, including but not limited to the Organizers’ reasonable attorney fees incurred. The Organizers reserve the right to request proof that your Entry is your original work created solely by you.

  • Submission: There are no fees to submit Entries. By submitting to this Contest, you agree that you are eligible under these rules and that you agree to abide by all Contest rules. The Organizers shall not be held responsible for damage done to the Entries submitted for the Contest at any time. The Organizers are not responsible for misdirected Entries which are not received prior to the Deadline.

  • Non-exclusive Permissions: By entering this Contest, you grant the Organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, and perpetual license to use, reproduce, alter, and display the Entry in whole or in part for any and all purposes related to the normal course of business of the Organizers, advertisement purposes, or other commercial uses, including but not limited to print and social media.

  • Previously Unpublished Entries Only: Contest is only open to Entries that have not been previously commercially published.

  • Simultaneous Submissions: Contest is open to simultaneous submissions of Entries sent to publishers, websites, or other contests at the same time as they are under consideration for this Contest. You must send written notice to the Organizers in the event that a simultaneously submitted Entry is accepted for publication in any way that may impede the rights of the Organizers to the Entry. 

For additional information email info@friendsofmedinacemetery.org or call the Friends of the Cemetery office at 330-591-4870.

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Historical Walk
Jun
15

Historical Walk

Join Friends of the Cemetery at 1:00 PM on June 15 for the annual Historical Walk. We will host a guided tour of Spring Grove Cemetery and reveal some of the interesting stories of notable and historic Medina citizens.

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Dedication of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Gravesite Signage
May
10

Dedication of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Gravesite Signage

Spring Grove Cemetery was accepted into the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2022.

On May 10, 2024, Friends of the Cemetery will be commemorating the efforts of H.G. and Elizabeth Blake and Lt. Col. Herman and Sarah Ann Martha Canfield in assisting freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s.

Please join us as we honor the Blakes and Canfields by sharing their stories, unveiling new signage, and welcoming their families and others in the Medina community.

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place in Section 5 of Spring Grove Cemetery.

Contact Friends of the Cemetery at info@friendsofmedinacemetery.org with any questions.

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2023 Spring Grove Arboretum Walk
Oct
21

2023 Spring Grove Arboretum Walk

The 2023 Spring Grove Arboretum Walk will take place on Saturday, October 21 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. This year we are offering two tours of the arboretum with Arborist Chad Clink. The first tour starts at 2:00 and the second one at 3:00 at the east side of the cemetery at the Mears Building or if you’d rather, take a solo walk through the arboretum at your own pace. Tour maps, water bottles and a scavenger hunt will be offered to all walkers. Don’t forget to bring your camera or phone to snap that winning picture for our photo contest! This is a free event and is family, pet, wheelchair, wagon and stroller friendly! The walk will be held rain or shine – see you there!

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2nd Annual Photo Contest
Sep
1
to Oct 25

2nd Annual Photo Contest

Our 2nd annual photo contest will be held September 1 - October 25. This year’s theme is The Serenity and Beauty of Spring Grove. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

12 years and under
13 years to 17 years
Adult — 18 years and up

Check back for contest rules and registration form.

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Historical Walk
Aug
19

Historical Walk

This year’s Historical Walk will be held at Old Town Graveyard on Saturday, August 19 at 1:00 p.m.  We will host a guided tour of the graveyard, Medina’s oldest burial grounds, with stops along the way at gravesites where presenters will tell the stories of several buried at Old Town.  This is a free event and open to the public.  There is plenty of free parking at the County Administration lot located next to Old Town.  This will be a rain or shine event. .  Please take note that in order to reach gravesites at Old Town, we will be walking on uneven ground turf.  Access by wheelchairs, strollers and/or wagons is only via the concrete sidewalk that traverses the graveyard and all wheeled vehicles must remain on that sidewalk. 

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