Cemetery House

Here we go again... Back late last fall at several Council Meetings there was much discussion about whether or not to make living in the Village owned house at Springhill Cemetery a mandatory stipulation for the Cemetery Superintendent's job. At the December 16, 2008, meeting a motion was passed making that stipulation a requirement for the Superintendent. That way fair market rental value would not have to be counted as part of the Superintendent's income for taxing purposes as required by the IRS. Since providing rent free, income free housing as part of that job was a Wellsville tradition for almost 40 years many of us thought it was the right thing to do. The job doesn't pay all that much and having the Superintendent living up there has proven very beneficial to the Village. Not only does the Village have the care takers duties covered they also have 24/7 security on site all for the price of one. That's just one of the benefits.

A little history on how this tradition all started goes back to 1969 when the State gave the Village an Aten Avenue house that was going to be taken with the expansion of Route 7. Ordinance 69-10 was passed on August 20, 1969, to relocate that house to the cemetery "to be suitable as a residence for the care taker of Springhill Cemetery". That house was moved to what use to be the entrance of the cemetery and is still there today. Then in December of 1972 the Village purchased the old house and 3.6 acres that is used today. They later sold the house relocated from Aten Avenue and that paid for the new purchase. The Cemetery Superintendent moved in that house in 1973. Since then there have been four families of care takers reside there. Since 1969 not one of them have paid rent or had it declared as income.

Having never been in that house Opal Lombardozzi invited me up for the nickel tour and to see first hand what was pictured on that list of items given to Village officials. I have called the 1840 built house historic but have recently been told that to be considered historic a house has to be in the original condition. Using that description it can't be considered historic but it is a grand, old, beautiful house that the Village should take pride in. It should be maintained, kept up and preserved.

Due to lack of time I haven't been able to get much history but it is believed that a Hammond, of Hammonds Park fame, built the house. I'm thinking it was the farm home before all that land for the park was given to Wellsville. Bonny Beresford told me there is Hammond bedroom furniture at the River Museum that came out of that house. Shown above is the arch over the front door, the front door looking out, a fire place and some of the woodwork that still remains. You don't see that craftsmanship and beauty in many homes today. You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

When Opal & Mike Lombardozzi moved in she told me the up-stairs was walled off and unused. They immediately set about making the place more livable for their family and you can't fault anyone for that. A new roof was put over the main structure and countless hours was put in by them and a multitude of friends & family, not counting money out of their own pockets, fixing the place up. Many a night was spent working into the wee hours of the morning to get accomplished what they did. By the time they finished with what they did the house was appraised for more that double what the Village paid for it. They even had an open house for everyone to see what a splendid place this house from our past looked like. It's a Village showcase.

A while later the Lombardozzis installed a wood burning boiler at their own expense. Council even passed Ordinance 07-20 authorizing them to do this with the agreement that the equipment will remain & operation expense will solely be the Lombardozzi's. Opal told me the gas bill went from $600 a month to practically nothing. They installed an above ground pool and stockade fence around it for their family's enjoyment and pay the extra insurance for it and other costs out of their own pocket. All in all everything they have done up there has been to make the place a little nicer. Eventually that is all to the benefit of the Village.

As reported last week Lombardozzi gave Village officials pictures of 43 problem areas that should be taken care of to maintain this Village property. As a thank you Council voted to rescind their earlier motion making it mandatory that the Cemetery Superintendent live there. Village officials stated they do not have the money to fix it up. I'm wondering if even one of them stopped to consider that not everything on that list has to be taken care right now? Take care of the water and mold problem this year. Next year possibly take care of the mortar problem and each year after take care of something else. The leaking water and subsequent mold problem should be primary as it presents a health problem. If they let it continue it's going to cause more problems. It would, in my opinion, be a crime to let that house fall into disrepair.

I haven't talked to Mike Lombardozzi but I dare anyone to tell me that he doesn't do an outstanding job maintaining the cemetery grounds. I've seen the letters from various funeral directors, florists and organizations that Mike's father presented to Council last year attesting to what both Mike & Opal do for them. Most of that is made possible by them living there. I hope Village officials don't blow it.

ole nib