The Slatington History Preservation Committee will hold a sign unveiling and recognition plaque awarding ceremony at the Williamstown Welsh Baptist Cemetery in Washington Township.

It will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the cemetery, located about 1 mile west of Slatington between Slatington and Emerald, in Washington Township.

At that time, the committee will recognize Shawna Laudenslager, of Washington Township, said Tim Snyder, first vice president of the Slatington History Preservation Committee.

Snyder said that Laundenslager will be recognized for her efforts to preserve and restore the historic Williamstown Welsh Baptist Cemetery, which she paid $5,000 to have it cleaned up and preserved.

He said Laundenslager’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Boyko, who are deceased, had lived in the home next to the cemetery.

“I contacted the Boyko family and was told that the person who now owned the home was Shawna (their daughter), and said that our committee would like to preserve the cemetery,” Snyder said. “She wanted to preserve it from a historical standpoint.”

Snyder explained the historical significance of the cemetery.

“Many Welsh people came to the area to work in slate quarries,” he said. “Henry Williams built this little village of Williamstown, built the church, school, many houses for his workers, and a cemetery attached to the church.”

Snyder said that the committee will also unveil a new sign for the cemetery.

“The cemetery is what’s left,” he said. “Henry Williams and his wife and some of his family are buried there, as well as some other people who have descendants living in the Slatington area.”