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2022 Cemetery Conservation Events

The following is a listing of cemetery conservation events taking place in the Rhode Island communities of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as part of the 2022 RI Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation Weeks. 

Click here to learn about the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors volunteer program.  

 

Burrillville, RI 

The Burrillville Historical  & Preservation Society will be sponsoring the following: 

Saturday, April 9 

8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Cleanup at the Riverside Cemetery in Harrisville (located opposite the Harrisville Fire Station at 201 Callahan School Street). The event will also feature a gravestone conservation demo and stone cleaning info. Please come prepared to work. Bring a rake, leaf-blower, brush loppers, gloves, and water to drink. There will be information on Burrillville’s historical cemeteries and the Adopt-a-Cemetery program. Contact [email protected]. 

 

Sunday, May 1 

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Walking tours of the Sayles Cook Cemetery with historical information on the people buried there, mainly the wealthy mill owners of the Sayles Mill (Granite Mill) along with their families. The gravestone conservation work that was completed in 2019 will be explained. The work is impressive, considering that some of the monuments are 15 feet tall! Park at the lower parking lot at Overlook Nursing Home on High Street, Pascoag (just up the hill from CVS at 20 High Street). For more info, contact [email protected]. 

 

Saturday, May 14 

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

There will be a gravestone conservation workshop at the Pascoag Cemetery located on Cemetery Hill Road led by Betty and Carlo Mencucci. This is a hands-on activity for those wishing to learn how to clean and reset/repair gravestones. Please dress accordingly and bring gloves. Bring your own lunch and water to drink. The workshop will begin with a short walking tour of the cemetery to examine stone types, problems, and prior repairs. To sign up for this workshop, please send an email to [email protected] or call 401-500-0433. 

Central Falls 

Will continue their perpetual care program for CF001 Moshassuck Cemetery. Contact [email protected].  

Cumberland 

East Providence 

Contact Sandra Turgeon, [email protected]. 

Glocester 

Saturday, April 16 

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The Glocester Conservation Commission is organizing a cleanup of the Asaph Wilder cemetery located at 190 Joe Sarle Road in Chepachet. This is an ongoing effort to clean up this cemetery by the conservation commission. For more information, contact Roy Najecki at 401-647-3631 [email protected]. 

 The Glocester Historical Cemeteries Committee will be starting its season on April 7th and will follow a 39-week cleaning schedule including one day per week for gravestone repairs. The public is always welcome at any of these events. For more information contact Bill Brown at [email protected]. 

 

Lincoln 

Ongoing spring cleanup and restoration project taking place at LN014 Lydia Harris Lot located 250 feet east of Eddie Dowling Highway and 45 feet NE of Sherman Ave. Also, flagging the veteran graves- Volunteers are needed. More info to follow. Contact Ken Postle at [email protected]. 

North Smithfield 

Saturday, April 16 

9:30 a.m. 

Cleanup at NS 037 Hotchkiss Cemetery. Located next to Union Cemetery (across from 108 Smithfield Rd). Find more info here: https://fb.me/e/2bk2J15Zu. 

 

Saturday, May 21 

Headstone cleaning demonstration at NS037 presented by Ed Walker More info to follow. Contact Rich Keene at [email protected] or Denis Chamberland at [email protected]. 

 

Pawtucket 

Saturday, April 30 

10:30 a.m. 

Walking Tour- Mineral Spring Cemetery, 4815 Mineral Spring Ave., Pawtucket, RI. 

The Heritage Alliance of Pawtucket and Public Archaeology Laboratory invites you to discover the history of this 18th-century cemetery and “meet” its residents, including prominent Pawtucket citizens and veterans of the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Also, learn how ground penetrating radar was used to find unmarked graves in the cemetery. https://www.heritagepawtucket.org/ |https://www.palinc.com/ Limit: 20. 

 

Saturday, May 7 

10:30 a.m. 

Walking Tour – Oak Grove Cemetery Cottage St./Central Ave., Pawtucket, RI. 

The Heritage Alliance of Pawtucket and Public Archaeology Laboratory invite you to discover the history of this cemetery, established in 1832 and used in ways that might surprise you. Also, learn how ground 

penetrating radar was used to find unmarked graves in the cemetery.  https://www.heritagepawtucket.org/ | https://www.palinc.com/.  Limit 20 

 

May 

Flagging the veteran graves in Pawtucket. Volunteers needed. More info to follow.  Contact Ken Postle at [email protected]. 

Providence 

Tuesday, April 12 

5 p.m. 

Walking Tour – “Dared to Live Different” – North Burial Ground, 5 Branch Ave. , Providence, RI 

Join Director Annalisa Heppner for a walking tour featuring some of North Burial Ground’s most noteworthy interments—Rhode Islanders who “Dared to Live Different” and defied norms of their time 

to make an impact on history. Meet artists, circus performers, suffragettes, philanthropists, and more! Meet at Rochambeau Gate (near the corner of North Main St/Rochambeau Ave). Learn more at 

https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground/. 

 

Saturday, April 23 

1:30 p.m. 

Walking Tour- North Burial Ground, 5 Branch Ave., Providence, RI. 

Public Historians Traci Picard and Bridget Hall will lead a tour of the Free Grounds area at North Burial Ground. Participants will discuss free burial in Providence, the politics of memory, and the ethics of studying potter’s fields and other free burial areas. Meet at the bridge which crosses the Blackstone Canal—see map. https://thefreegrounds.squarespace.com https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burialground/. 

 

Sunday, May 1 

7 p.m. 

North Burial Ground, 5 Branch Ave., Providence, RI.  

Join the Friends of the North Burial Ground and Randall Park and NBG Annalise Heppner to talk about ways to get involved with the Friends group, plus a short fun program. https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground/ 

 

Saturday, May 21 

1 p.m.

Walking Tour – North Burial Ground. 5 Branch Ave., Providence, RI. 

Naturalist Greg Gerritt will lead the tour of amphibian habitats in NBG, focusing on Ridgeside Lake and a small rainwater pool. Participants will learn how to spot amphibian refuges, and they may also encounter young hawks about to fledge in the cemetery.  Learn more https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground/. 

 

Ongoing April and May–  

North Burial Ground, 5 Branch Ave., Providence, RI. 

Let’s play Headstone Bingo—a family-friendly search and find Bingo game with headstone iconography. Download the Bingo game from the NBG website (below) and take your family on a self-guided exploration of the cemetery. Learn more: https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground-tours/. 

 

Celebrate NBG’s earliest burials by photographing your favorite details from our earliest headstones (1700-1799). Be creative: a perfect headstone doesn’t necessarily make the best photo! Be careful: don’t modify stones or attempt to move them. To share: Tag @pvdnorthburialground on Facebook or Instagram—or—DM your photo to NBG on Facebook or Instagram—or—email [email protected] with the subject “1700s Photo Contest.” We put our 10 favorite photos to a vote on NBG’s Facebook and Instagram! https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground/. 

 

Smithfield 

Will continue their perpetual care program and have scheduled cleanups in April and May. Contact Skip Tuetken at [email protected]. 

 

Woonsocket 

Saturday, April 23 

10 a.m. 

There will be a clean-up at WO009 Bernon/St. James Cemetery located at 99 Logee St. led by Greg Duhamel and sponsored by the Woonsocket Historical Society and the Blackstone Valley Historical Society. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves. Contact Greg Duhamel at [email protected]. 

 

Saturday, April 30 

10 a.m. 

Walking Tour 

There will be a guided tour presented by Greg Duhamel at WO009 the Bernon Cemetery located at 99 Logee St. Sponsored by Blackstone Valley Historical Society and Woonsocket Historical Society. Contact Greg Duhamel at [email protected]. 

 

Saturday, May 14 

10 a.m. 

There will be a cleanup led by Greg Duhamel at WO0013 Zebina Cook Cemetery located at the rear of the Adrian J. Bissonnette ball field on Elder Ballou Rd. Sponsored by Woonsocket Historical Society and the Blackstone Valley Historical Society. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves. Contact Greg Duhamel at [email protected]. 

 

Sunday, May 15 

1 p.m. 

Walking Tour – The Woonsocket Historical Society is planning a walking tour at WO008 Precious Blood Cemetery located at the corner of Rathbun St. and Diamond Hill Rd. in Woonsocket. Rain date is Sunday, May 22 at 1 p.m. Contact Irene Blais [email protected]. 

 

Saturday, May 21 

10 a.m. 

Walking Tour – There will be a guided tour presented by Greg Duhamel at the WO013 Zebina Cook Lot located at the rear of the Adrian J. Bissonnette ball field on Elder Ballou Rd. Sponsored by Blackstone Valley Historical Society and Woonsocket Historical Society. Contact Greg Duhamel at [email protected].