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Eagle Scout seeks $3,500 to restore Joseph Thomas Family Cemetery in Tega Cay
Summary
Caleb Keske, an Eagle Scout candidate with Troop 250, asked the Tega Cay City Council for help raising $3,500 to clean and beautify the Joseph Thomas Family Cemetery, install a historical plaque, and improve visibility from the road; council members praised the project and offered assistance.
Caleb Keske, a Life Scout with Troop 250 and an Eagle Scout candidate, presented his Eagle project to Tega Cay City Council on June 15, asking for assistance in raising $3,500 to restore the Joseph Thomas Family Cemetery.
Keske told council the small family cemetery contains 18 gravesites, only eight with headstones, and that two of the people interred served in the Civil War. His project will remove low-hanging branches, install no-maintenance grass and deer-resistant wildflower seed, improve sightlines from the road, and fund a historical plaque describing the site. He said if the project is under budget he will donate remaining funds to the Fort Mill History Museum.
The presiding officer asked about project details and scope; Keske said most costs were for the historical plaque and described plans for volunteer sign-ups and a QR code for donations. Council members responded with praise and offers of help: one councilor volunteered to take Keske's QR code immediately and another offered to help on site.
Why it matters: small, local historic sites often lack maintenance budgets and rely on volunteer projects and community fundraising. Council members noted the project honors local history and can improve public awareness of an often-overlooked family cemetery.
What happens next: Keske will continue fundraising (goal $3,500), organize volunteer days in the fall, and coordinate with council/staff for any needed city support or permissions.
