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Brandon Park Commission proposes donation to fund headstone for 19th-century benefactor
Summary
The Brandon Park Commission told the Williamsport City Council it has unanimously decided to donate $1,000 to a fund to procure a headstone for Andrew Boyd Cummings at Wildwood Cemetery and may pursue up to $20,000 in community fundraising. The commission said funds will be managed through Wildwood Cemetery and overseen by Caleb Whipple.
The Brandon Park Commission presented a proposal July 10 asking the Williamsport City Council to approve a donation to fund a headstone for Andrew Boyd Cummings at Wildwood Cemetery.
Miss Dudek told council the commission "has unanimously decided to donate the amount of $1,000 to the fund to procure a headstone for Andrew Boyd Cummings." She said the commission is also pursuing additional fundraising — she cited a potential total of about $20,000 for a high-quality headstone — and that the project would be managed through Wildwood Cemetery with oversight by Caleb Whipple. She added that if the commission's funds are not sufficient to complete the project, any monies collected would be returned to the commission.
Dudek described Cummings as a landowner who donated Brandon Park to the city in 1891 and said earlier markers at his gravesite had been obscured; the commission concluded a proper headstone is appropriate to honor his historic contribution. The commission indicated it will return to council for formal approval of the donation at the meeting in two weeks.
Council members thanked Dudek for the presentation and encouraged community fundraising to complete the project.
