Date: 26 November 2022

Project: Presently performing 100% survey, photograph & GPS documentation of all identifiable interments in KERR CEMETERY, SYMMES TOWNSHIP, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO 45140. All 3 Symmes Twp cemeteries are managed by Cemetery Mapping Services, 870 Pine Needles Dr, Centerville, OH 45458.

Discussions with the Symmes Twp Cemetery Sexton on 1 Dec finds that Section TIERS, all LOTS and GRAVES are being renumbered. As such, all work identified in Section TIERS is on hold until Symmes Twp provides new documentation.

Beginning in late 2022, Genealogist Walter D. Golladay is performing a 100% survey of all known grave site interment locations [max 1,144] in Kerr Cemetery, Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio 45140. Results will be documented in five or six binders and shared, but not turned over to cemetery officials. All research is presently performed by 1 volunteer. Me! I will gladly accept any and all volunteer help or assistance.

In May 2013, I performed a 100% survey of all interments in Kerr Cemetery, Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio 45140. Five binders, containing www.findagrave.com memorial pages for approximately 1100 interments, were presented to Symmes Township officials. Photographs of gravestones were included. Once presented to Symmes Twp officials, the five binders were never seen again until returned to me in late 2022, when I began this project. All research was performed by 1 volunteer. Me!

In November 2022, I began the process of performing a second 100% survey of all gravestones and grave sites in Kerr Cemetery. All new interments since 2013 will be documented. In addition, all gravestones will be Global Positioning System (GPS) mapped and documented.

My research will be performed in coordination with the Symmes Township Cemetery Sexton Bill Pittman and the Hamilton County Genealogical Society.

At start of 2022 project, Find A Grave.com reported:
1. Approximately 1,144 grave site memorials were recorded. Both known by name, and unknown.
2. Sixty percent were photographed. Most of the photographs were derived from my 2013 effort.
3. Twenty-five percent were GPS documented. None by me. However, many of the GPS recordings were documented outside the cemetery. In home settings adjacent to the cemetery, or on neighboring streets.

Problems encountered:
1. Www.findagrave.com does not deliver accurate GPS location points. Locations could be 5 feet to 500 feet from gravestone.
2. Presently testing "Where Am I" android application. Better, but not great.
3. Kerr Cemetery data base did not record approximately dozen interments recorded in Kerr Cemetery. Delivered Findagrave memorial page to cemetery officials. Some with gravestone photographs.
4. SECTIONs are not visually identified in Kerr Cemetery. Either by sign posts or free maps handed out at front gate. LOTs are also not identified on any cemetery maps. GRAVE number locations are not important. If you can get to the SECTION and LOT, you should be able to find the GRAVE.
5. Kerr Cemetery does not provide SECTION and LOT maps on their website.
6. Kerr Cemetery does not allow for photographs of gravestones to be uploaded to their website.
7. Kerr Cemetery data base recorded interments in LOTs not documented on cemetery maps. E.g. Lot 732 does not exist.
8. Section 8 contains many gravestones recorded in Russian. Have not been able to successfully contact Russian interpreter. With Russian interpretation, can then document interments in www.findagrave.com.
9. Kerr Cemetery is managed by Cemetery Mapping Services, Centerville, OH. While it appears that the system allows for photographs to be uploaded to the individual memorial pages, no apparent way is presented in the narrative to do so.

KERR CEMETERY is mapped out in SECTIONs and LOTs:
SECTION TIERs contains 27 LOTs
SECTION 1 contains 56 LOTs
SECTION 2 contains 19 LOTs
SECTION 3 contains 52 LOTs
SECTION 4 does not exist!
SECTION 5 contains 28 LOTs. Five contains many interments.
SECTION 6 contains 28 LOTs. Six contains a few interments.
SECTION 7 contains 31 LOTs. Seven contains a few interments.
SECTION 8 contains 31 LOTs. Eight contains a few Russian Orthodox interments.
SECTION 9 contains 16 LOTS. Nine presently contains no interments.

Sequence of events include:

1. Using WWW.findagrave.com, approximately 1,144 interments were identified and properly documented. As of 22 Nov 2022, 1,144 interments have been documented, 60% of the grave sites containing grave stones have been photographed and 25% of the grave sites have been GPS mapped. However, at this time, I would not trust the majority of GPS mapped locations for accurate placement of grave stones.

2. Using the Symmes Township Cemetery Mapping System (CMS) software, all interments were then corroborated for true burial locations in Kerr Cemetery. Identifying the SECTIONs (TIERs, 1 thru 3 and 5 thru 9); the LOTs, and the GRAVE NUMBERs. For unknown reason, SECTION 4 does not exist.

3. In Find A Grave, all existing GPS marked grave site memorials were documented.

4. In Kerr Cemetery CMS Data Base, all existing GPS marked grave site memorials were documented.

3. All gravestones were individually photographed. All LOTs and GRAVEs in SECTIONs 5, 6, 7 and 8 were individually photographed. Photographs were uploaded to Find A Grave.com. Kerr Cemetery data base does not appear to allow for photographs. Why not?

4. All www.findagrave.com interment memorial pages not containing the exact burial location in the cemetery received correction / modification to the PLOT Location area. Nine hundred eighty-nine (989), out of 1,144 interment locations are managed by me. Approximately 100 corrections were sent to other interment memorial managers. A long time to effect changes. Many suggestions timed out and were auto corrected after about two weeks, by www.findagrave.com.

5. Once complete, interment indexes will then be prepared and maintained for all 8 SECTIONs in Kerr Cemetery. Plus one overall Kerr Cemetery index for all 1,144 interments. The overall index will then be corroborated with the Symmes Township Data Base Cemetery Index.

6. Interments in each SECTION can then be properly surveyed by Name, SECTION, LOT, GRAVE NUMBER, Gravestone photograph, and GPS map location.

7. Hopefully, Section maps will be prepared and shared with the public as handouts at the Kerr Cemetery entrance. Accurate GPS interment locations will be posted on www.findagrave.com for all known interments and burial locations. Many interments are labeled "unknown".

8. At the completion of this project, five binders containing all known cemetery interments will be fully documented and made available to Symmes Township Historical Society officials to view, but not retain.

9. It is my intention to make the five binders available to the public. How that will be done is yet to be determined.

At the completion of this project, I have been invited by the President of the Hamilton County Genealogical Society to make a presentation before them.

Questions as to my progress can be sent to the above email address, or call me at 513-378-3292.

Respectfully,
Walter D. Golladay
Loveland, Ohio 45140

Date: 26 November 2022

Project: Presently performing 100% survey, photograph & GPS documentation of all identifiable interments in KERR CEMETERY, SYMMES TOWNSHIP, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO 45140. All 3 Symmes Twp cemeteries are managed by Cemetery Mapping Services, 870 Pine Needles Dr, Centerville, OH 45458.

Discussions with the Symmes Twp Cemetery Sexton on 1 Dec finds that Section TIERS, all LOTS and GRAVES are being renumbered. As such, all work identified in Section TIERS is on hold until Symmes Twp provides new documentation.

Beginning in late 2022, Genealogist Walter D. Golladay is performing a 100% survey of all known grave site interment locations [max 1,144] in Kerr Cemetery, Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio 45140. Results will be documented in five or six binders and shared, but not turned over to cemetery officials. All research is presently performed by 1 volunteer. Me! I will gladly accept any and all volunteer help or assistance.

In May 2013, I performed a 100% survey of all interments in Kerr Cemetery, Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio 45140. Five binders, containing www.findagrave.com memorial pages for approximately 1100 interments, were presented to Symmes Township officials. Photographs of gravestones were included. Once presented to Symmes Twp officials, the five binders were never seen again until returned to me in late 2022, when I began this project. All research was performed by 1 volunteer. Me!

In November 2022, I began the process of performing a second 100% survey of all gravestones and grave sites in Kerr Cemetery. All new interments since 2013 will be documented. In addition, all gravestones will be Global Positioning System (GPS) mapped and documented.

My research will be performed in coordination with the Symmes Township Cemetery Sexton Bill Pittman and the Hamilton County Genealogical Society.

At start of 2022 project, Find A Grave.com reported:
1. Approximately 1,144 grave site memorials were recorded. Both known by name, and unknown.
2. Sixty percent were photographed. Most of the photographs were derived from my 2013 effort.
3. Twenty-five percent were GPS documented. None by me. However, many of the GPS recordings were documented outside the cemetery. In home settings adjacent to the cemetery, or on neighboring streets.

Problems encountered:
1. Www.findagrave.com does not deliver accurate GPS location points. Locations could be 5 feet to 500 feet from gravestone.
2. Presently testing "Where Am I" android application. Better, but not great.
3. Kerr Cemetery data base did not record approximately dozen interments recorded in Kerr Cemetery. Delivered Findagrave memorial page to cemetery officials. Some with gravestone photographs.
4. SECTIONs are not visually identified in Kerr Cemetery. Either by sign posts or free maps handed out at front gate. LOTs are also not identified on any cemetery maps. GRAVE number locations are not important. If you can get to the SECTION and LOT, you should be able to find the GRAVE.
5. Kerr Cemetery does not provide SECTION and LOT maps on their website.
6. Kerr Cemetery does not allow for photographs of gravestones to be uploaded to their website.
7. Kerr Cemetery data base recorded interments in LOTs not documented on cemetery maps. E.g. Lot 732 does not exist.
8. Section 8 contains many gravestones recorded in Russian. Have not been able to successfully contact Russian interpreter. With Russian interpretation, can then document interments in www.findagrave.com.
9. Kerr Cemetery is managed by Cemetery Mapping Services, Centerville, OH. While it appears that the system allows for photographs to be uploaded to the individual memorial pages, no apparent way is presented in the narrative to do so.

KERR CEMETERY is mapped out in SECTIONs and LOTs:
SECTION TIERs contains 27 LOTs
SECTION 1 contains 56 LOTs
SECTION 2 contains 19 LOTs
SECTION 3 contains 52 LOTs
SECTION 4 does not exist!
SECTION 5 contains 28 LOTs. Five contains many interments.
SECTION 6 contains 28 LOTs. Six contains a few interments.
SECTION 7 contains 31 LOTs. Seven contains a few interments.
SECTION 8 contains 31 LOTs. Eight contains a few Russian Orthodox interments.
SECTION 9 contains 16 LOTS. Nine presently contains no interments.

Sequence of events include:

1. Using WWW.findagrave.com, approximately 1,144 interments were identified and properly documented. As of 22 Nov 2022, 1,144 interments have been documented, 60% of the grave sites containing grave stones have been photographed and 25% of the grave sites have been GPS mapped. However, at this time, I would not trust the majority of GPS mapped locations for accurate placement of grave stones.

2. Using the Symmes Township Cemetery Mapping System (CMS) software, all interments were then corroborated for true burial locations in Kerr Cemetery. Identifying the SECTIONs (TIERs, 1 thru 3 and 5 thru 9); the LOTs, and the GRAVE NUMBERs. For unknown reason, SECTION 4 does not exist.

3. In Find A Grave, all existing GPS marked grave site memorials were documented.

4. In Kerr Cemetery CMS Data Base, all existing GPS marked grave site memorials were documented.

3. All gravestones were individually photographed. All LOTs and GRAVEs in SECTIONs 5, 6, 7 and 8 were individually photographed. Photographs were uploaded to Find A Grave.com. Kerr Cemetery data base does not appear to allow for photographs. Why not?

4. All www.findagrave.com interment memorial pages not containing the exact burial location in the cemetery received correction / modification to the PLOT Location area. Nine hundred eighty-nine (989), out of 1,144 interment locations are managed by me. Approximately 100 corrections were sent to other interment memorial managers. A long time to effect changes. Many suggestions timed out and were auto corrected after about two weeks, by www.findagrave.com.

5. Once complete, interment indexes will then be prepared and maintained for all 8 SECTIONs in Kerr Cemetery. Plus one overall Kerr Cemetery index for all 1,144 interments. The overall index will then be corroborated with the Symmes Township Data Base Cemetery Index.

6. Interments in each SECTION can then be properly surveyed by Name, SECTION, LOT, GRAVE NUMBER, Gravestone photograph, and GPS map location.

7. Hopefully, Section maps will be prepared and shared with the public as handouts at the Kerr Cemetery entrance. Accurate GPS interment locations will be posted on www.findagrave.com for all known interments and burial locations. Many interments are labeled "unknown".

8. At the completion of this project, five binders containing all known cemetery interments will be fully documented and made available to Symmes Township Historical Society officials to view, but not retain.

9. It is my intention to make the five binders available to the public. How that will be done is yet to be determined.

At the completion of this project, I have been invited by the President of the Hamilton County Genealogical Society to make a presentation before them.

Questions as to my progress can be sent to the above email address, or call me at 513-378-3292.

Respectfully,
Walter D. Golladay
Loveland, Ohio 45140