Albion 8th graders working on community projects to highlight Revolutionary War

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION –  Albion eighth-graders Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello are pictured with two of four new roadside markers that show local connections to the Revolutionary War.

The markers, valued at $2,050 each, were funded through the Pomeroy Foundation. The markers will be installed next spring at area cemeteries, including both the Annis Cemetery on Riches Corners Road and Tanner Cemetery in Albion on Route 31, across from Mount Albion.

This photo shows a headstone for Revolutionary War veteran Lott Swift, who is buried at the East Barre Cemetery. It will replace his broken headstone there. The Albion students applied for the new stone through the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C.  In the picture are Patrice Birner (Orleans Chapter DAR), Luci Borello, Sutton Sanders, Barre Highway Superintendent Dale Brooks (who will install the headstone), Kirk Mathes (the cemetery was originally part of the Mathes farm and named the Roy Mathes cemetery), and Barre Town Supervisor-elect Steve Coville (the town helped with the application).

Patrice Birner and the DAR donated 14 new bronze flag markers for the Revolutionary War burial sites in the county that did not have one.

Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders place a new flag marker at the site of Revolutionary War veteran Anthony Tripp at Mt. Albion Cemetery.

The two students did research and work this past summer on gathering information on Revolutionary War veterans buried in the county as part of our country’s upcoming 250th anniversary, said Tim Archer, an Albion teacher helping to coordinate this effort.

The information will be shared with the local DAR and the county historian. More than 60 Revolutionary War soldiers can be confirmed, with another 45 unconfirmed.