A Good Read from the June 1990 Newsletter

Oldest Stones Uncovered During Cemetery Restoration

The headstone and foot stone of Henry Burnham who died in 1790 were discovered during restoration work on the Old Cemetery. We found the small stones leaning against other stones, their inscriptions hidden. The headstone was not listed in the 1974 survey, and the 1790 date is the oldest in the cemetery 

The Old Cemetery dates from 1787 when the Town purchased an acre of land from Luther Gilmore for a “burying ground.” Jonas Clark gave another acre on the west end in 1853. There are about 650 burials in the Old Cemetery. 

Restoration began in 1989 with $3,000 budgets for each of two annual phases. The 1990 phase of restoration is now completed, according to stone mason Michael Fannin. He and an assistant have repaired 85 broken stones using epoxy adhesives and stainless steel dowels. Scaffolding and chain hoists were necessary to reset several massive “towers.” Fannin excavated another 140 leaning monuments to their bases, digging sometimes four feet below grade. They now stand upright and level. He cleaned many stones and made their inscriptions legible by using special detergents. Fannin and his assistant also excavated, leveled and repaired the handsome cast iron gate on the Oatman plot. It also has a new coat of paint for the first time in many years.

Some headstones in the Old Cemetery are still in poor condition. The priority in repair work was given to improving the overall appearance of the cemetery and to getting the most for the money available. Thus many monuments which are badly broken or deteriorated and in need of extensive work were passed over. Parts of some stones are missing. Some stones are beyond repair.

As in 1989, voters at Town Meeting approved and appropriation of $1,500 to be matched by private donations. The Historical Society has campaigned for the money and, so far, this year, has received gifts from the Ladies Art Club, the Garden Club and from two Society members. The Trustees also voted to put profits from the March 25 Maple Festival toward the $1,500 matching goal.

It is hoped that a committee of Old Cemetery Trustees will soon be appointed by the Selectman to continue the maintenance and to raise money for a Perpetual Care Fund.

If you would like to contribute to the repair of a particular stone or to the general Cemetery Fund, please see the form at the end of the newsletter. There are still 41 headstones in need of $50 to $200 repair work or replacement with a simple, suitable marker.