[MassHistPres] Historic "abandoned" burial grounds

[Betty Slade]

We have registered 104 historic family burial plots with the MHC and placed markers (which are large stones engraved with the WSP number) at each.  We are slowly cleaning the gravestones with D/2 donated to us and have repaired many stones by persons trained to do so. We have cleaned sometimes twice thousands of stones and repaired over 900 stones.  We have a CPA grant for the training of volunteers (which we all are) and for repairing the historic stones. If a cemetery is on private property we ask the owner for permission to enter.  If it is on the road we notify the neighbors but don't ask for permission.  The Town supports this activity.
 We have put a layer on the town GIS for the burial grounds we have registered.  The Planning Board is aware of our efforts and if they see a cemetery on a property that is looking to be developed, we are contacted. Our main issue is:  where is the authority of the town in dealing with vandalism or other activity on the historic burial grounds? Betty SladeWestportCPC
Sent from AOL DesktopIn a message dated 6/2/2025 10:21:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time, urbanosally at gmail.com writes: 
in Harwich our cemetery commissioner oversees these and often does repairs or signage through  cpa funds. i love thos quiet little cemeterys. Glad younare looking outbfor them. sally UrbanoHarwichindividual
On Mon, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:09 AM Betty Slade via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
Which town entity has responsibility to protect historic but "abandoned" burial grounds?  
 If a historic cemetery is on a lot that has no ownership, does the town have responsibility or authority to protect it from vandalism? Can the Local Historical Commission take responsibility? Betty SladeWestportCPC  
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