Clague House memorial garden begins to take shape

Volunteers from R.E. Warner helped the Westlake Historical Society create a memorial garden outside the Clague House Museum. Pictured, from left: Steve Rufe, Mike Christopher, Brett Neff, Dave Ferencik, Matt Benovic, Chris Kushinski, Lydia Janis, Ted Beltavski.

On a recent weather-wonderful day, members of the Westlake Historical Society were joined by employees of R.E. Warner & Associates, a Westlake engineering and architectural firm, to begin the transformation of the memorial garden at the Clague House Museum.

The memorial garden is a way to remember past members of our organization. The recent passing of the society's former president, Mr. Bill Robishaw, inspired current president Lysa Stanton to come up with a way to honor not just Bill and his wife Jean, but the other members of the society that have passed away but who gave so much to our organization.

The idea of a memorial garden, and the addition of a flag pole placed in the Robishaws' memory, shaped into reality as the employees of R.E. Warner came out and assisted with the clearing of stumps, rocks and weeds. R.E. Warner wanted to give back to the community and they did so by helping the historical society clear area for this very important project.

The volunteers and society members went right to work clearing the area that will soon be the memorial garden and new flag pole area. Historical Society President Lysa Stanton shared with the volunteers the history of the Clague family homestead and the significant contribution the Clague family made to Westlake.

The society members are so grateful for the willingness of R.E. Warner to help. In addition, another group from R.E. Warner assisted society members in taking photos of the artifacts stored inside the historic Clague House Museum.

We hope to have the flag pole installed this summer.