DEKALB--A remote, abandoned cemetery in Old DeKalb that’s the burial site of a Revolutionary War veteran seems to be unearthing its story one tombstone at a time.

Known as the Old Pioneer Cemetery, the one-acre site is in a wooded area off Route 812 along the banks of the Oswegatchie River.

Upkeep of the cemetery has been neglected for years and many town residents aren’t even aware it exists.

Interest in the cemetery was sparked last spring when DeKalb resident Gerald Martin went searching for and found the tombstone of Asa Sprague, who served as a captain in the Revolutionary War.

"The stone was broken, but it was there," said DeKalb Town Historian Bryan Thompson, "He is buried next to his wife."

The stone reads: "Sacred to the memory of Captain Asa Sprague who departed this life February 2, 1830, aged 82. In peace he left this world."

Thompson said the Daughters of the American Revolution organization notified him sometime in the 1990’s that Sprague was buried in that area based on information included in the soldier’s pension records.

However, it wasn’t until last spring that Sprague’s stone was discovered.

Now, an effort to preserve the past is under way by volunteers who are cleaning up the site, unearthing broken stones and identifying burial plots. A total of about 12 stones have been discovered, including some with no identifications.

"Most of the tombstones are broken which is sad, but they are there," Thompson said.

"This was the town’s first cemetery. We need to record what’s there. Even if we can’t save it forever, we at least need some record or we lose that history," Thompson said.

Thompson said the cemetery site was originally owned by Judge William Cooper, founder of Cooperstown, whose family eventually went bankrupt.

The cemetery, he said, was abandoned around the time of the Civil War and the area was used a cow pasture from about 1860 to the 1970’s. A deed dispute around the turn-of-the-century complicated efforts to properly maintain the cemetery.

Thompson said the property is now owned by Ken Masters, DeKalb, who believes he is a descendant of Sprague.

In an effort to get teenagers involved with the cemetery, Veronica A. Sanderson, a high school social studies teacher at Hermon-DeKalb Central School, and Thompson held a clean-up day there on Oct. 11.

Students who participated can count the project toward the six hours of community service they’re required to perform for high school graduation.

Equipped with rakes and shovels, a group of about six students along with Sanderson and Thompson, hiked out to the site, clearing brush and searching for new stones. Students were also taught how to use a metal probe for measuring distances between stones.

In the process, the group discovered three more burial stones. High school senior Ruby Tuesday Rowe, 18, said the workday was interesting and the cemetery site was peaceful with light shimmering between the trees.

"I’ve lived in DeKalb for 14 years and I’ve never seen anything quite like that," Rowe said.

"It was remarkable that the stones lasted through all this weather and you could still read the impressions," Rowe said. "We did a lot of work, but it still needs a lot more."

During the two and a half hours spent at the site, students also separated one stone from the branches of a large tree trunk. The stone is the burial site of Dwight Spaulding, one of Sprague’s grandsons.

Jason Brown, a Hermon-DeKalb senior, uncovered a stone marker that was buried about 12 inches underground.

Sanderson said she felt linking history with community service was a valuable lesson for her students.

"I think it makes them feel a part of the community. Several have asked if we can go back," Sanderson said. "Finding the tombstones made it more interesting and exciting."

Thompson said Martin is coordinating efforts to create a map of the cemetery and a catalog of who is buried there.

Sanderson would also like to establish a strong working relationship between high school students and members of the DeKalb Historical Association, many of whom are senior citizens in the community.

"I think that partnership is valuable," she said.

The students will also be required to write a one-page essay explaining what they did and what they learned from the project.

Besides Sanderson and Thompson the group included students Rowe, Brown and Dustin Carpenter, Matt Turnbull, Renee Miller and Krysta Walrath. Dave LaBarge, a Gouverneur Central School graduate, also assisted that day.