NEWS

Historical Cemeteries Commission reflects on past accomplishments, looks to future

By EMMA BARTLETT
Posted 1/31/23

According to Cranston Historical Cemeteries Commission (CHCC) Chair John Hill, 2022 was an active and chaotic year for the group.

Hill presented the commission’s annual report at the full …

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NEWS

Historical Cemeteries Commission reflects on past accomplishments, looks to future

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According to Cranston Historical Cemeteries Commission (CHCC) Chair John Hill, 2022 was an active and chaotic year for the group.

Hill presented the commission’s annual report at the full City Council meeting Jan. 23 and explained that, early in the year, CHCC had two resignations, followed by the passing of member Walter Slocum.

“Walter was a walking encyclopedia of the city,” said Hill. “He knew the history of the city, he knew every cemetery…someone can take his place on the commission but he was irreplaceable and we miss him every day.”

Established in 2008, CHCC focuses on inventorying Cranston’s historical cemeteries, developing plans/programs to restore and maintain these lots and advising the City Council on any actions needed to help implement these goals.

Slocum was responsible for assembling a spreadsheet that organized the commission’s data on the city’s 167 registered historical cemeteries.

Some of the commission’s work this past year included the cleanup of the Pocasset Cemetery on Dyer Avenue, the Nehemiah Knight Lot on Cranston Street and the John Stone Lot on Frankfort Street. In its report, the commission said its proudest accomplishment in 2022 was the work they completed at the Knightsville Meeting House Lot on Phenix Avenue.

The Knightsville Meeting House Lot headstones span from the late-1700s to late-1800s and belong to members of the pioneering families who helped settle the city. According to the commission, the lot also includes veterans of the Rhode Island colonial forces and soldiers of the American Revolution.

Hill gave a shout out to the Department of Public Works for their assistance picking up yard waste following one of the commission’s cleanup.

“When we do these cleanups, we can generate anywhere near 50 bags of yard waste and they’ve been great about finding ways we can get those bags picked up,” Hill said.

The commission stated that it’s been working to expand interest in the graveyards and recruit volunteers to help maintain them.

“We have been trying to get people to look at our cemeteries not as fields with stones sticking out of the ground, but as small museums of our city’s history and the people who made it. We build monuments to presidents and governors, but these small lots, their headstones carved with names and dates, are the only memorials to the everyday working people of our past,” reads the annual report.

The commission noted that neighbors who live near or next to an old cemetery often wish it could be restored, however, are intimidated by the amount of initial work needed.

“Simply cutting grass and picking weeds are not a heavy burden. It’s the initial clearing of the brush, bushes and thick undergrowth that often prevent volunteers from stepping up,” reads the report.

The commission addressed this issue through the establishment of volunteers who will mow and clear the grounds so the maintenance is manageable and ready to be turned over to a local volunteer for upkeep.

This year, the commission has made an effort to expand its social media presence and rebooted its Facebook page which has been “a valuable tool in connecting with individuals who share the passion for preserving the city’s cemeteries.”

One area of concern for the commission has been the neglect of Oakland Cemetery. CHCC has worked with various groups to try to improve the cemetery’s condition, however, the size of the cemetery and ownership’s lack of involvement in the maintenance efforts “have made a permanent solution elusive.”

Looking to 2023, the commission intends to restore more cemeteries, recruit volunteers to maintain these sites and expand its social media presence.

The commission is also exploring the idea of hosting events to increase awareness of Cranston’s local historical cemeteries. Some of the ideas include an open-air public workshop on cleaning headstones. The group is also considering bringing in experts on cemetery headstones and carvers of New England. The commission would also like to devote more energy to fundraising – adding that while money is helpful, one of CHCC’s pressing needs is yard waste bags.

Council President Jessica Marino thanked the commission for its work – stating that the members have done a remarkable job throughout Cranston.

cemetery, cleanup

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