Edgar Cemetery gate rebuilt

"The pearly gates are what some people believe that after they die, they go through them and enter heaven," said Chris Shuck, clerk-treasurer at the Edgar City Office. The pearly gate she speaks of is the white archway located at Edgar Cemetery entrance. The gate, that has welcomed many for more than a century, was in peril, needing a resurrection of its own.

The gateway had endured slight bumps by incoming cars and the furies of Nebraska storms for the past 115 years. In April 2023, a misfortunate accident caused damage to the archway. While arriving to do some utility work, a city employee accidentally ran into the old limestone archway with a boom truck resulting in solid rock toppling to the cemetery floor.

Edgar Cemetery's stately gate entrance was originally erected in 1909. Last year, city officials agreed it would be pertinent in keeping of history for the gateway to be restored to its original appearance by reusing its fundamental stones in the rebuild. In soliciting professionals, the city ran into challenges. There are not many masonries in Nebraska which compelled them to inquire outside the state for assistance. Some masonries would only consider building a new gate. The companies, who could do the work were booked out for years in advance. Summit Masonry, a family-owned business from Hastings, was willing and able to accept the restoration challenge. The owners, Jim Johnson, father, and Jordan Johnson, son, knew this was a special, historical moment. With Jim's 40 years of masonry experience, they were confident the job could be done. To aid them in the work was former owner, Ron Johnson, brother of Jim, and Mike Hartman, a long-time family friend and employee.

The Summit Masonry team reminisced how building the gate long ago was a monumental task. It was built in the fall of 1909 by the Paine Granite and Marble Company of Grand Island from Indiana limestone at a cost of $1,250. The stone was hauled from Grand Island by team and wagon. Mules, ropes and pullies were likely used to help place stone-upon-stone creating the two side gates and an arch in the center. Even for the masonry team today to reinstall fragments was a huge undertaking. Before they could begin the repairs, the sedimentary rock pieces which remained intact needed to be disassembled to assure there weren't any foundational cracks running through the rock from the top to the base of the whole unit.

Cleaning the old mortar off while keeping the stones intact was necessary before new mortar could be used for reattachment of the block. Modern day equipment like scaffolding, a 9,000-pound forklift and straps were used to set the stones individually. It was all pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. "It was unique, not something you see every day. It was like patchwork putting it back together again," said Jordan. Aside from the accomplished work, they also had memorable moments touring the cemetery reading headstones.

Prior to fitting the prepared stone into place, another step of prep-work was critical. River Gypsy Building Company of Edgar, framed-up the gates and archway before stones could be set. The framing had to be sturdy enough to support the weight of dense stones. For perspective on the extent of the project, a one-cubic foot of limestone can weigh up to 150-pounds. Multiply that by several quantities of stones stacked upright on the sides like square pillars and span the stonework in an arch across approximately an eight-foot high and 12-foot-wide entrance opening to the next pillar so a carriage or automobile can be driven under it when entering the cemetery. The forms and stones were left in place to cure for about one week before they were removed.

Rainy days caused delays during the rebuild, but after about one-month the project was completed. After coordinating work between the two companies the gateway was ready for paint. The City of Edgar did the finishing touches by painting the gates their former color of "pearly white" and adding black lettering of the designation. To remain a symbolism of protection and transition, the Edgar Cemetery archway entrance has been injected with new life.

Insurance compensated for the restoration.