Bridge Street Cemetery Master Plan Part 2
Bridge Street Cemetery
Northampton, Massachusetts
Preservation Master Plan
prepared for the
City of Northampton
by
Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC
Monument Conservation Collaborative, LLC
CME Associates, Inc.
2016
In memory of Edward “Ned” Huntley
Bridge Street Cemetery
Northampton, Massachusetts
Preservation Master Plan
prepared for the
City of Northampton
Department of Public Works
125 Locust Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1576
by
Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC
313 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-586-4178
www.marthalyon.com
Monument Conservation Collaborative, LLC
P. O. Box 541
Norfolk, CT 06058
860-309-9491
www.mcc-monument-conservation.com
CME Associates, Inc.
333 East River Drive
East Hartford, CT 06108
860-290-4100
www.cmeengineering.com
2016
Funding for the Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan was provided by the
City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee
Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
SUMMARY
The Bridge Street Cemetery, established in ca.
1661, is the oldest known extant place of
interment in Northampton, attracting visitors
from around the country who stop to admire
its centuries-old, artfully carved gravestones.
Located along the north side of Bridge Street
at the eastern edge of the city, it began on a
small portion of a ten-acre parcel and served as
the only place of interment until the late
th
1700s. Several additions of land in the 19
th
and early 20 centuries brought the cemetery’s
total acreage to 19.05, and it remains this size
today. It contains the gravesites of many
prominent citizens, including Northampton’s
The Bridge Street Cemetery, established ca. 1661, is the oldest
early settlers, as well as individuals and families
known extant place of interment in Northampton, containing
influential in the development of the city, and
graves of early settlers, as well as families who built the
community.
its landscape reflects Colonial, Victorian and
Modern styles of cemetery design. Its age notwithstanding, the Bridge Street Cemetery remains an
active burial place to this day.
Despite ongoing efforts of city crews to maintain the cemetery’s landscape, many features show signs of
wear. In the early 2000s, residents of the surrounding Ward 3 neighborhood took notice of many
damaged gravestones and a deteriorating perimeter fence, and in 2014, convinced the Department of
Public Works to apply for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to complete a long-range plan for
the cemetery, one that would study the existing condition and identify improvements to be made. The
CPA grant, together with a Cemetery Trust
Fund match, allowed the city to hire a
professional consulting team to compile the
Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan.
Northampton-based Martha Lyon Landscape
Architecture, LLC led the team, with
Monument Conservation Collaborative, LLC
evaluating the gravestones, and CME
Associates, Inc., consulting engineers, assessing
the historic structures. A citizen-based advisory
committee regularly met with the consulting
team throughout the planning process,
insuring proper representation of the city’s
interests. The team also conducted two public
The Isaac Bates chapel tomb, designed by architect Richard
forums during the process, allowing the
Upjohn and constructed in 1875, is one the cemetery’s most
general public to express concerns and help set
prominent historic features.
priorities for making improvements.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
The planning process spanned approximately six months. The consulting team mapped the cemetery,
and researched and documented its physical development from the time of its establishment to the
present. The team also assessed all of the landscape features, including the setting, edges, entrances and
circulation routes, trees, gravestones and monuments and historic structures. From the assessment,
the team was able to develop a series of recommendations, or “preservation projects,” for upgrading the
landscape, to be implemented incrementally over time, as follows:
Project #1: replacing the cemetery fences and gates using a combination of ornamental iron
(tubular steel), vinyl-coated chain link, and possibly cast iron (to be accomplished in a single
phase or up to five phases)
Project #2: conserving 85 priority #1 gravestones (in hazardous condition) throughout the
cemetery
Project #3: upgrading the roadways and paths, including establishment of a main vehicular
“loop” road
Project #4: developing a sign and interpretive program, including welcome sign(s), directional
signs (roadways) and interpretive signs, as well as an Internet-based application allowing visitors
to access historical information via mobile devices
Project #5: conserving 84 priority #2 gravestones (in unstable condition) throughout the
cemetery
Project #6: developing a tree re-planting plan, introducing young trees to replace aging ones,
and diversifying the mix of trees species
Project #7: stabilizing the Ansel Wright tomb, Seth Wright tomb, town receiving tomb, and
Bates chapel tomb (mausoleum)
Project #8: conserving 51 priority #3 gravestones (suffering from ongoing deterioration)
throughout the cemetery
Project #9: developing a plan for upgrading the cemetery’s water system and making extensions,
as required
Project #10: upgrading and/or relocating the cemetery maintenance shed
Project #11: completely restoring the Bates chapel tomb
Project #12: upgrading Parsons Street and the entrance the Bridge Street School, including
narrowing Parsons Street and creating a one-way route, allowing for a more generous cemetery
edge
A final project, #13, was added following the second public forum, to make provisions for adding
benches to the cemetery landscape, and developing a donation program for bench purchases.
The team prepared planning-level budget projections for each of the projects to assist the city with
fundraising efforts. The least expensive projects included plans for tree re-planting and water line
upgrades ($5,000 - $7,500), and the most expensive addressing full restoration of the Bates Tomb
($500,000). The total for all preservation work was estimated to be from $1.0 to $2.0 million.
The plan concludes with a set of guidelines for managing the cemetery landscape on an on-going basis.
It recommends that the city proceed as follows:
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Minimize the use of turf and with it,
the need for mowing;
Gradually remove existing shrubs
and prohibit the planting of new
shrubs;
Introduce new tree species
appropriate to the Colonial,
Victorian and Modern styles of
cemetery design;
Replace turf with perennial ground
cover plantings;
Regularly inspect gravestones for
signs of deterioration and/or
vandalism and hire a professional
The brownstone façade-d town receiving tomb and adjacent Ansel
conservator to treat the stones; and
Wright tomb, both constructed in the 1840s, are both in good
Regularly inspect fences and repair
condition with some repairs needed to their wing walls. The steel
damage as required.
doors on the town tomb appear to be original.
The Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan will serve as a guide for future restoration and
management efforts and as a resource for securing financial support. More importantly, the plan will
help raise public awareness about the significance of this centuries-old historic resource, its value to the
City of Northampton, and the need to insure its long-term protection.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
CONTENTS
Summary ...................................................................................................................................... i
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Historical Development of the Bridge Street Cemetery ............................................................ 3
Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 11
Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 25
Management ................................................................................................................................ 39
Appendices
A: Historical Chronology .................................................................................................... A-1
B: Engineering Assessment ................................................................................................. B-1
C: Gravestone Assessment .................................................................................................. C-1
D: Public Engagement ......................................................................................................... D-1
E: Bibliography .................................................................................................................... E-1
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC, Monument Conservation Collaborative, LLC and CME
Associates, Inc. thank the following individuals for their generous support in the development of this
plan:
Jim Laurila, City Engineer, City of Northampton
Rich Parasiliti, Highway Superintendent, City of Northampton
Bridge Street Cemetery Advisory Committee:
Pauline Fogel
Jennifer Normanly
Bob Reckman
W. Michael Ryan
Roe Schmidt
Preston Thompson
Austin White
Dylan Gaffney, Forbes Library Special Collections
Elise Bernier-Feeley, Hampshire Room for Local History, Forbes Library
Nancy Rexford, Historic Northampton
Marie Panik, Historic Northampton
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
INTRODUCTION
The Bridge Street Cemetery, established in ca.
1661, is the oldest known extant place of
interment in Northampton, and visitors from
around the country come to admire its
centuries-old, artfully carved gravestones.
Located along the north side of Bridge Street
at the eastern edge of the city, it began on a
small portion at the farthest corner of the
“sequestered minister’s lot,” a ten-acre parcel
set aside for the minister. It served as the only
place of interment until the late 1700s.
th
Several additions of land in the 19 and early
th
20 centuries brought the cemetery’s total
acreage to 19.05, and it remains this size today.
It contains the gravesites of many prominent
The Bridge Street Cemetery, established ca. 1661, is the oldest
citizens, including Northampton’s early known extant place of interment in Northampton, containing
graves of early settlers, as well as families who built the
settlers, as well as individuals and families
community.
influential in the development of the city, and
its landscape reflects Colonial, Victorian and
Modern styles of cemetery design. Regardless of its age, the Bridge Street Cemetery remains an active
place of interment to this day.
The Northampton Department of Public Works crews have regularly tended the cemetery, cutting
lawns, collecting leaves, and removing dying and dead trees and fallen limbs, and in general, the
landscape appears in good condition. But despite these ongoing maintenance efforts, portions of the
landscape show wear. The perimeter chain link fence, erected in the 1950s, has rusted and treads of
the interior roadways have settled. Many gravestones lean and some have broken, and the tombs’ wing
walls are failing. The towering shade and evergreen trees add tremendous character to the landscape,
but most are mature and nearing the end of their lives. Lack of a formal entrance, clear circulation
route, and interior signs detracts from visitors’ experiences.
Concern over the cemetery’s condition began to emerge in the 2000s, when residents of the
surrounding Ward 3 neighborhood took notice of the damaged gravestones and deteriorating fence. In
2014, the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association convinced the Department of Public Works to apply for
Community Preservation Act funds to complete the foregoing Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master
Plan. The CPA grant covered a portion of the plan; the Cemetery Trust Fund account provided
matching funds.
Project Goal
The goal of the Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan, as defined by the city-appointed Bridge
Street Cemetery Advisory Committee overseeing the project, was to compile a complete inventory and
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
assessment of the cemetery’s natural and built features, and make specific recommendations for
preserving and managing these features over the long term.
Program of Improvements
At the outset of the project, the Advisory
Committee defined the following program of
enhancements and improvements to include
in the Preservation Master Plan:
A solution to enclosing the cemetery,
through use of a new fence or other
material, to prevent vandalism and
protect stones, especially those
standing close to Parsons Street
A better defined (easier to find) and
more appealing entrance or entrances
The brownstone town receiving tomb is one the cemetery’s most
with a system for opening and closing
prominent features, easily viewed by passersby from Bridge Street.
gates
A plan for replacing mature trees, including diversification of tree species
An approach to providing information to visitors, through signs or other means
An improved system for water delivery
A method of preventing accumulation of dog waste
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of the BRIDGE STREET CEMETERY
Beginnings - Before 1661
The Bridge Street Cemetery dates to the mid-1600s and the founding of Northampton. In the 1650s,
the area that would become Northampton was known as Nonotuck, and in 1653 a group of settlers
petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for permission to “plant, possess, and inhabit the place
1
being on the Connecticut River above Springfield…as their own inheritance.” In 1654 twenty families
settled on home lots laid off of King, Pleasant, Market and Hawley Streets, and within two years they
constructed a meeting house on “Meeting House Hill.” The first burial place may have stood in the
2
meeting house yard, and between 1654 and 1661, ten individuals may have been interred at this site.
An artist’s rendering of Colonial era Northampton showed the meeting house, constructed in 1656 on “Meeting House Hill.”
The first burial ground may have stood adjacent to this building and later re-located to the Bridge Street Cemetery. Image
courtesy of the Hampshire Room of the Forbes Library.
Establishment - 1661-1813
In 1661, the town voted to build a new meeting house to accommodate a growing population, and
conjunction voted that no more burials should be made near the meeting house. To provide a more
substantial place for interments, the town set apart land for a “minister’s lot,” located a new burying
3
ground at the furthest corner, and in April 1662 made the first interment, Mary Jeanes (Janes). The
ten graves placed in the first churchyard may have been disinterred and moved to the new burying
ground at this time. Early records indicate that the site consisted of 10 rods square (approximately 2/3
acre) and that the town surrounded it with stone fence, a structure that was likely re-built several times.
1
The Tercentenary History Committee, The Northampton Book, Chapters from 300 Years of Life of a New
England Town, 1654-1954, 3
2
Daughters of the American Revolution, Betty Allen Chapter, Early Northampton, 91
3
This early burying ground was located at the northeast corner of the older section of the Bridge Street Cemetery.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
In 1783, records show that adjoining property
owners had “taken liberties” with the site,
reinforcing the need to maintain this stone
4
enclosure.
The burying ground remained the same size
until the early 1800s, serving as the only place
of interment until 1788, when the West Farms
Cemetery was established in “Loneville” at the
5
western edge of the town. Graves at the Bridge
Street Cemetery dating to this establishment
period provide evidence that the dead were
interred in individual graves marked with tablet-
shaped stones made of slate and brownstone.
The earliest burials were marked with slate and brownstone
The work of regional gravestone carvers
tablets shaped like portals and carved with Puritan imagery.
appeared on the faces of many. Perennial
plants likely covered the ground with their
6
growth controlled by grazing animals or cutting with a scythe. Any trees growing on the property
would have been species native to New England.
Enlargement and Embellishment -
1814-1899
th
The early 19 century marked the beginning
of several efforts to enlarge and ornament the
burying ground, gradually transforming it
from a small yard into a modern cemetery. In
ca. 1814, a piece of land stretching from the
main avenue westward to Pine Street (today’s
Parsons Street) was added, and in 1833, five
more acres were added to the northwesterly
7
side. In 1864, John Clarke gave an old
pasture, through which ran a brook (now
The 1860 Walling map of Northampton showed the Cemetery
wedged between Bridge and Pine (today’s Parsons) Street. John covered), and upon his death in 1869, willed
Clarke’s pasture stood to the north.
$2,000 for adornment of the cemetery.
Clarke’s contributions propelled the town to
map the property, and lay out plats (plots) to be purchased, pre-need, by families for future interments.
The town also established its first cemetery committee to “have special care of improving and adorning
8
the cemetery.” Upon incorporation as a city in 1883, Northampton purchased more land from Samuel
Wright to further enlarge the site.
4
Daily Hampshire Gazette, 7/2/1934
5
Lambert, David Allen, A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries,143
6
No written evidence was found to document grazing of animals in the cemetery, or cutting with a scythe,
however these practices were common during the Colonial period.
7
The Tercentenary History Committee, 91; Trumbull, James Russell, History of Northampton, Massachusetts
from its Settlement in 1654, Vol I., 546
8
Town Annual Report, 1869, 5
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Several ornamental features
accompanied the expansion of
the cemetery, transforming it
from a Colonial style burying
ground into a planned Victorian
style cemetery. In 1815, the first
private tomb, erected by Seth
Wright, was constructed near
Bridge Street, followed in 1848
by Ansel Wright’s tomb, and the
town receiving tomb in 1849.
Before his death, John Clarke
financed the planting of
evergreen trees and construction
of a cast iron fence around the
9
perimeter. In 1875, Frances
Atwill Bates, widow of Isaac
The 1875 bird’s eye of Northampton, published by the Daily Hampshire
Gazette, reflected “Clarke’s Addition,” appended to the north (right in photo)
Chapman Bates, oversaw the
side of the cemetery.
completion of the Bates chapel
tomb, a 20-feet square limestone structure designed in the shape of a Greek cross, located near the
10
cemetery’s southwest corner. Designed by architect R. N. Upjohn, the structure became a lasting focal
point. Other features added during this period include the many family plots, elevated above the
roadways, ornamented with stone enclosures and marked by large central obelisks, as well as a fountain,
11
donated by Charles Maynard.
Modernization - 1900-1954
th
By the end of the 19 century,
few available burial sites remained
at the cemetery. City officials,
together with the cemetery
committee, deliberated over the
choice to acquire more adjacent
land, or to provide burial space
on the outskirts of the town. The
resulting decision to enlarge the
in-town cemetery led to two
purchases of land. In 1900, a ¾-
acre strip along the west side of
Orchard Street provided 150
additional lots on the east
By 1902, shade trees within the cemetery had grown very tall, creating a
cemetery edge. In 1911, the city
canopy over the landscape. John Clarke’s cast iron fence rimmed its outer
acquired the Hinckley lot,
edges. The Bates chapel tomb stands in the back ground. Photo courtesy of the
extending cemetery land to North
Forbes Library Special Collections; from Northampton of Today by Warner.
9
Fencing continued into the 1890s, when additional iron fence was placed along Pine (Parsons) Street. CAR,
1892, 30
10
Daily Hampshire Gazette, 11/30/1875
11
Town Annual Report, 1878, 75
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Street and bringing the total acreage to
19.05. The property’s location within a
densely-populated urban neighborhood
spawned criticism from abutters, fearing
that a place of interment would diminish
land values.
The city continued to maintain the
cemetery’s historic features during the
th
first half of the 20 century, including
repairing and painting the cast iron fence,
pruning trees, and cleaning and painting
the Bates tomb. Modern features also
appeared in the cemetery during this
The Luther Clark Memorial Chapel, constructed in 1934, stood for
period, including the Luther Clark
about 50 years at the cemetery’s southern edge. Use of the chapel
Memorial Chapel, erected in 1934 at the
declined beginning in the 1960s, and it gradually fell into disrepair.
southwest cemetery edge. This Georgian
The city demolished it in 1987. Photo courtesy of Historic
marble building contained a 96-seat
Northampton.
chapel and vaulted basement, made
12
possible through a bequest of Luther Clark. The city also installed the water system (though a WPA
13
project). The most prominent of modern features -- the chain link perimeter fencing -- was installed
beginning in 1951 to replace the deteriorating cast iron fence. The work of adding new fence
14
proceeded gradually over the course of several years.
The modern layout of the newer sections
at the cemetery’s north side contrasted
with those in the older sections. The flat
topography, and long and straight
roadways reflected a contemporary
approach to burial, as did the introduction
of smaller plots marked with standard 30”
high monuments flanked by small, often
pruned, evergreen shrubs.
Decline - 1955-2006
Beginning in the mid-1950s, the cemetery
landscape entered a period of slow decline.
Vandals overturned marble tablets at the cemetery in the 1950s.
Today, some of the tablets are altogether missing. Photo courtesy of the Vandals damaged the leaded glass windows
Forbes Library Special Collections, Walter Corbin Collection.
of the Luther Clark Memorial Chapel, as
15
well as the roof of the Bates tomb. Many
trees perished from Elm disease, leaving holes in the cemetery canopy, and 1964, city crews built a new
16
maintenance garage along the western cemetery edge. Beginning the early 1960s, use of the Clark
12
Daily Hampshire Gazette, May 1936
13
City Annual Report, 1936, 223
14
City Annual Report, 1951-1954
15
City Annual Report, 1955, 341
16
City Annual Report, 1964, 391
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Chapel declined, and the building, suffering from neglect, decayed. In 1987, the city’s Department of
Public Works (established in 1961, and absorbing the work of the cemetery committee) voted to
demolish the structure. A committee formed to memorialize the razed chapel and commissioned a
17
memorial design, but budget constraints at the time prevented execution of the design.
Revitalization - 2007 - Present
In the late 2000s, residents of Ward 3 and other concerned citizens began to publicly voice concern
about the condition of the cemetery, one of the Northampton’s most historic features, located at the
easternmost entrance to the city. A letter to the editor of the Daily Hampshire Gazette urged the city to
consider applying Community Preservation Act funds to the construction of a new perimeter fence. In
2014, with the support of Ward 3 residents, the Department of Public Works sought funding for a
preservation master plan for the Bridge Street Cemetery, a document that would help guide future
preservation and enhancement efforts over the long term. In 2015, the DPW received funds and
matching them with cemetery trust fund dollars, commissioned the foregoing Bridge Street Cemetery
Preservation Master Plan.
Historic Landscape Styles
As summarized above, the Bridge Street Cemetery landscape evolved slowly over the course of over 350
years, and with this evolution came a change in its physical character. Americans’ approaches to
commemorating the dead shifted over the centuries, and subtle variations in the cemetery landscape
reflect these shifts, as follows:
Colonial Burial - Approximately 2.3 Acres.
The earliest burial areas, located in the
south and southeast sections of the
th
cemetery, exhibit characteristics of 17 and
th
18 century American burials. Single
graves dominated, marked with portal-
shaped tablets made from native slate and
brownstone and intricately carved by local
or regional artisans. Graves were arranged
in rows and often, unrelated individuals
were interred adjacent to one another (the
cemetery at this time was not pre-plotted
and graves were not pre-sold). Typically,
Colonial burying grounds did not contain
roads or paths, and trees consisted of native
Tablet-shaped markets, made of slate and brownstone arranged in
species. Fences and/or stone walls often
rows typify the Colonial style of burial.
enclosed the site.
Victorian Burial - Approximately 13.15 Acres. With additions of land to the west and north sides of the
cemetery, the landscape began to assume the look of a more modern facility. New land was planned
and plotted, and the plots sold to families. Owners outlined their plots with fencing, curbing, or
coping, and placed a prominent monument at the center (often surrounded by smaller gravestones for
individuals). Material shifted away from slate and brownstone and towards marble and granite, and
17
Daily Hampshire Gazette, 8/10/1987, 8/16/1989
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
carvings displayed Victorian imagery.
Roads and paths were introduced to
provide carriage ways. New species of
evergreen and deciduous trees appeared,
many originating in Europe and/or Asia,
reflecting the impact of the growing
American nursery industry and large
importation of plans from overseas.
Modern Burial - Approximately 3.6 Acres. The
latest additions of land came in the early
20th century, appended to the north and
northeast sides. These areas reflect a
modern approach to interment and
commemoration. The landscape
The Victorian style featured family plots edged with copings, curbs
continued to be planned and plotted, with
and/or fences and marked with central obelisks. This style exists across
plots sold to families. However, plot
approximately 2/3 of the cemetery landscape.
embellishment in the form of large
monuments and prominent enclosures was
no longer in vogue. Instead, standard 30”
high markers, made largely of granite,
marked individual and family plots, and
gravesite shrub and perennial plantings
became popular. Roads were often paved
and widened to accommodate motorized
vehicle funeral processionals.
Period of Historical Significance
The period of significance for the Bridge
Street Cemetery spans the years 1661 to
18
1966. During this time, the town set off
the “minister’s lot” and with it, a small plot
Standard 30” high granite markers dominate the Modern style of
of land to use for the purposes of interring
burial, as seen along the cemetery’s east edge.
the dead. As many as ten burials from a
burying yard, located near the meeting
house, may have been relocated to the new cemetery at that time. Several additions of land over in the
thth
19 and early 20 centuries allowed the cemetery to evolve into a 19.05 acre site, exhibiting a tapestry
of landscape styles from the Colonial, Victorian and Modern periods. Future efforts to preserve, alter,
and expand the cemetery should meld, as closely as possible, with these distinctive historic styles. The
distribution of these styles appears on the Historic Cemetery Landscape Styles map, shown on the next
page.
18
The National Park Services defines “historic” as a resource of 50 years in age, or older, and thus the 1966 end
date.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT
The following section of the Preservation Master Plan assesses the existing natural, built, and functional
features of the Bridge Street Cemetery landscape. Its purpose is to document the features; to analyze
1
their condition; and to outline preliminary recommendations for preservation treatment. Together
with (1) the information compiled in the historical development section and (2) the results of Public
2
Forum #1, the assessment provides a foundation for the over plan.
Setting
The Bridge Street Cemetery lies near the
eastern entrance to the City of
Northampton, between two other open
spaces, the Tri-County Fairgrounds (on the
south), and Lampron Park (on the west).
Its approximately 19 acres fit into the
rectangular block defined Bridge Street
(Route 9) on the south; Parsons Street on
the west; North Street on the north; and
Orchard Street on the east. An asphalt
sidewalk lined with shade trees stands
between the cemetery and Bridge Street,
and the back yards of private residences
along Orchard and a portion of Parsons
The Bridge Street Cemetery sits on 19.05 acres within the city block
Street abut the cemetery’s east and west
formed by Bridge, Parsons, North and Orchard Streets, providing an
sides. Along the remainder of Parsons
ample green space with an urban neighborhood.
Street and all of North Street, the street
edges stand snugly against the cemetery,
with only a chain link fence as separation.
Edges & Views
The edges immediately surrounding the cemetery largely detract from its historic character. A five-feet-
high steel chain-link fence, erected in the 1950s, encloses the property, walling it from the outside.
While a barrier of this height helps separate the busy exterior landscape from the more serene interior
one, the contemporary chain link material adds harshness. Much of the fencing shows its 60-year age,
with rusted posts and damaged panels. Evergreen and deciduous trees stand along the rear property
lines of some Orchard Street houses, helping to soften the look of the fence, but much of the
remaining edges contain only the fence separating the cemetery from the adjacent roads and neighbors
back yards.
1
Preservation, as defined by the National Park Service, includes four treatment options: stabilization, restoration,
rehabilitation and reconstruction, as discussed at the end of this section of the plan.
2
Public Forum #1, held on October 28, 2015 allowed citizens to voice concerns about the cemetery landscape
and set priorities for improvements. A snapshot of the forum results appears in the introduction to this plan, and
a complete forum summary is included in Appendix X.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Once inside the cemetery, visitors enjoy
many spectacular views across the
landscape. The most pleasing views are
possible from the south edges looking
northward across the “old section,” and
from the summit of the old section’s
knolls, looking in all directions. Standing
at the northern end, visitors can scan
much of the cemetery landscape, and from
the northeast corner, the Holyoke Range
rises in the background. Because of the
mature deciduous trees growing
throughout, these views change with the
seasons, becoming shorter in spring and
summer, color-filled in fall, and more
expansive in winter after the leaves have
Views from within the cemetery towards the adjacent residences on
dropped.
Orchard Street stand unobstructed, compromising the privacy of
neighbors and their back yard activities.
Less pleasing views correspond to the
cemetery’s edges. In spots where the chain link divides the property from its residential neighbors,
private back yard activities are on full display. In other spots, deteriorating outbuildings stand outside
the fence. And along Parsons and North Streets, where the fence rims the roadway edge, passing traffic
intrudes on the quiet and serenity of the cemetery grounds.
Geology and Topography
The cemetery lies at the former
easternmost edge of the Barrett Street
Marsh, a large wetland area that once
extended from what is now Prospect
Street to North Street, according to
naturalist Laurie L. Sanders in
Rediscovering Northampton, The Natural
3
History of City-Owned Conservation Areas.
Much this land was drained for use first
as farmland and pasture, and later for
commercial and industrial purposes.
Any high water table areas within the
cemetery may stem from this former
4
wetland area. Underneath the cemetery
surface, soils consist of Amostown-
Two knolls (extending from the right of the photo) rise from the older
Windsor silty substratum-Urban land
section, providing variety to the otherwise nearly level topography.
3
was prepared by Laurie L. Sanders
Rediscovering Northampton, The Natural History of City-Owned Conservation Areas
for the Northampton Conservation Commission in 1999.
4
The planning process did not include soil borings; references to high water table areas are anecdotal.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Bridge Street Cemetery Setting, Edges and Views.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Bridge Street Cemetery Topography, Access and Circulation.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, as generally classified by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. These
5
soils are moderately well-drained with depth to restrictive features of more than 80 inches. Site
investigations conducted as part of this plan did not reveal significant areas of seasonal water collection,
and the absence of shifting in stones and other structures suggest that the water is not high.
Nearly level and gently rolling slopes cover the cemetery landscape, making much of it easy for users of
all levels of physical ability to navigate. Flat topography appears across the northern three-fourths,
broken up by dirt and grass roads recessed six to twelve inches below the burial areas. This level grade,
combined with a compacted surface, has resulted in the ponding of water along some of the dirt roads
during rainy periods. The wheel tracks of these roads have also sunken, resulting in a build-up of grade
in the road centers. The undercarriages of low-riding vehicles can brush against these road centers.
Two prominent knolls containing some of the oldest graves, rise out of the southern end and present a
contrast to the otherwise flat landscape. Grades of these landforms exceed 5% (20:1), making them
inaccessible to some visitors with physical disabilities. The knolls, with their slate tablet markers and
mature pine trees, add tremendous character to the cemetery.
Entrances and Circulation
When the city erected the five-feet-high
chain link fence was, the enclosure
included six points of access -- or gates --
spread along Bridge, Parsons and North
Street. The Orchard Street span does not
contain gates. Each double-leaf gate stands
at the terminus of a cemetery roadway,
suggesting that the city once provided, or
intended to provide multiple access points.
However, today locks permanently secure
all but one gate and this single entrance,
located off Parsons Street near the
cemetery’s northwest corner,
accommodates both vehicles and
A rusting chain link gate and crude sign mark the main and only
pedestrians. A series of simple signs
accessible entrance to the Bridge Street Cemetery. Visitors complain
holding information about visitation hours
that it is hard to find.
and conduct stand near the gate; no
ornamental features, such as gate posts or plantings, mark the entrance. Two closed entrances, one off
Parsons Street and another off Bridge, contain ornamental features, including a set of stone columns
(Parsons) and remnant paved entry circle (Bridge), however the massing of abutting chain link fence
deemphasizes both. A third makeshift pedestrian entrance, including a set of crudely-fabricated steps,
stands in the back yard of an Orchard Street house allowing users to hop the chain link fence.
Once inside the cemetery, visitors follow a gridded set of largely unpaved roadways. In the newest
section to the north of the entry drive, bituminous asphalt covers the road surface, and this pavement
extends southward towards and connects to the maintenance shed. Patches have been applied to some
of the pavement, likely to cover low points and cracks. Turf and compacted dirt covers the main north
5
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Survey, National Cooperative Soil Survey of Hampshire
County, Massachusetts, Central Part.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
to south roads, and, as earlier mentioned, the tracks have sunken, leaving built-up road centers, and
slowing vehicular travel. Turf fills the east-to west roads making them visually blend with the adjacent
burial areas. In the oldest sections, several narrow grass paths that appear on historic cemetery maps
are no longer visible. The generally level grades of all roads and paths make it easy for walkers to travel
throughout the cemetery, however the uneven surfaces present some obstacles to persons with physical
th
limitations. Sometime during the 19 century the city created names for each of the roads and paths
and these appear on historic maps. Today, these routes lack signs, and as a orientation for visitors is
poor.
Plant Communities
The Bridge Street Cemetery contains three general
plant communities, all of which complement and
contribute the historic character, as follows:
Specimen Trees. A total of 85 deciduous and
evergreen trees grow throughout the 19 acres,
including 51 (60%) deciduous trees and 34 (40%)
evergreens. Of this tree total, 30 (35%) are maples
(genus Acer), and 21 (25%) consist of small
numbers of deciduous trees including oak
(Quercus), beech (Fagus), sweetgum (Liquidambar),
gingko (Gingko), tulip tree (Liriodendron), and
birch (Betula). The remaining 34 (40%) of trees are
evergreens, with spruces (Picea) and pines (Pinus)
the dominant genii [cedars (Juniperus) and
hemlocks (Tsuga) are also present]. Many of both
the deciduous and evergreen trees have reached full
maturity, with several specimens measuring 48” to
60” in caliper. Some, including a tulip tree, display
magnificent height and form. While all of the
specimens complement the historic landscape, the
A mature tulip tree, located near the geographic center of
predominance of one genus -- Acer -- leaves the
the cemetery serves as a centerpiece in the landscape.
cemetery vulnerable to significant tree loss at one
time. The mature age of many exacerbates this
threat. Also, twelve of the maples are Acer platanoides (Norway maple), a species classified as
6
invasive by the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Habitat.
Gravesite Plantings. The newest sections of the cemetery, located to the north of the entry drive,
contain many burial plots marked by pruned evergreen shrubs flanking gravemarkers. While these
plants present long-term maintenance concerns for cemetery crews, they do typify gravesite
ornamentation, a feature of the modern American cemetery style.
6
Refer to http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/land-protection-and-
management/invasive-species/invasive-plants.html for a complete listing of invasive species.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Bridge Street Cemetery Trees.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Bridge Street Cemetery Character-Defining Features.
Ground Cover and Turf. Grasses and perennial ground covers blanket the cemetery surface or “floor,”
providing a lush and colorful setting for the monuments and markers, and complementing the historic
character.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Structures
The cemetery contains several masonry
structures rimming gravesites (family plot
enclosures), holding interments (the
Bates mausoleum and other tombs), and
embellishing the landscape (entry
columns at Parsons Street) and most
appear to be in good condition, with only
minor signs of deterioration, with the
exception of the Bates mausoleum. A
summary follows.
Family Plot Enclosures. Granite
curbing or coping has been used
to outline the edges of several
family plots, principally located
The Shepherd family plot features a granite coping anchored by corner
in the center sections of the
th
piers, enclosing the group of graves. Such enclosures typified the 19
cemetery. Prominent among
century of cemetery design. Most are in excellent condition.
these is the Sylvester Graham
family plot, where rounded-top copings, anchored by molded corner piers and accessed by a set
of granite steps, outline the grouping of graves. Most of these enclosures stand plumb, with
little sign of overturning (failure). In locations where these stones have heaved, the likely cause
is either an inadequate foundation or buildup of water in soil behind the stones, or both.
Parsons Street Entry Posts. This set
of tiered granite posts stands at
the permanently entrance off
Parsons Street, on the south
edge. The date of their
construction is unknown. They
measure approximately 8 feet in
height, approximately 30” square
the base, and taper to
approximately 18” below large
pyramidal shaped caps. The
stand straight and plumb and do
not appear to be shifting.
Bates Mausoleum. This 1875
structure constructed on Nova
The Bates mausoleum, designed by Richard Upjohn and constructed of
Scotia limestone is one of the Nova Scotia limestone, is one of the cemetery’s most prominent features.
Years of unaddressed leaks have led to its deterioration.
cemetery’s most prominent
ornamental features. While the structure does not show signs of movement and is not cracked,
many of the joints have opened, allowing water to infiltrate. The façade and interior have
spalled and scaled, and the roof appears to be leaking. The windows have gone missing and are
sealed with plywood. Short term repairs include repairing leaks and replacing windows. Long
term, the structure should be rehabilitated and cleaned inside and out.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Town Receiving Tomb. This 1849 structure stands inside the cemetery along Bridge Street.
Constructed with a brownstone facade, granite lintels and wing walls, a brick interior with
granite steps and steel door, it is in very good condition with little signs of movement.
Capstones are missing from the right wing wall, both wing walls have slightly shifted, and the
steel door is in need of re-painting, but no short-term repairs are needed.
Ansel Wright Tomb. Constructed with a granite facade, mortared brick wing walls, and an
arched mortared brick interior, this tomb also shows little sign of movement. One top stone
on the façade has shifted, and the right wing wall has failed, and the original steel door is
intact, inside the tomb. No short-term repairs are needed.
Seth Wright Tomb. This 1815 mortared brick arch structure lies mostly underground. The
grade surrounding the tomb shows no signs of sinking; the structure is likely intact. The
façade, covered with an inscribed marble tablet, is failing. No short-term repairs are needed,
however long term the façade should be removed and reset.
A detailed assessment of the Bates mausoleum and tombs appears in Appendix B: Structural Assessment of
this plan.
Gravestones & Monuments
The cemetery contains hundreds of
gravestones and monuments, dating from
the 1600s through to the present day,
and made from slate, brownstone, marble
and granite. This assessment focused in
detail on the condition of stones in the
oldest section, identifying those needing
treatment, and provided an overview of
stone condition in the remainder of the
cemetery. An assessment form was
compiled for each of the 85 stones in the
old section, complete with stone material,
size and inscription, a photograph, and
condition report. The condition of each
The gravestone and monument assessment review condition of stones
stone was placed in one of the following
throughout the cemetery, finding a total of 85 in hazardous condition
treatment categories:
needing immediate conservation treatment.
Priority 1: Hazardous, including 22 markers that are a danger to themselves, to adjacent
markers, and to passersby. These require immediate conservation treatment.
Priority 2: Unstable, including 36 markers that either lack stability on their bases, have failed or
failing repairs, or are extremely tilted. Conservation treatment should happen as soon as
possible.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Priority 3: Ongoing Deterioration, including 20 markers that show signs of deterioration and
should be evaluated and treated within three to five years.
The overview of stones needing treatment in the remainder of the cemetery (new section) identified a
total of 148, 63 of which are in hazardous condition. Lists of the individual stones requiring treatment
in both the old and new sections appears in Appendix C: Gravestone Assessment.
Character-Defining Features
The Bridge Street Cemetery landscape
contains may details that both add to and
detract from its historic character, most of
which have been described above. Features
helping to define the historic character
include the granite entry columns, Bates
mausoleum, town receiving tomb and
private mound tombs, mature shade and
evergreen trees, topography (especially in
the old section), gravestones, monuments,
and plot details, grassy paths and unpaved
roads. Features detracting from the historic
character are the perimeter chain link fence,
chain link gates, bituminous asphalt road
The granite entry posts, located off Bridge Street are one of the many
surfaces, and contemporary maintenance
character-defining features in the cemetery. These should be
shed. The open views to neighbors’
preservation and better incorporated into the landscape.
personal, private back yard spaces add to
these detracting elements. Several historic features which once stood in the cemetery have been
removed. These include the historic fountains (2), perimeter cast iron fencing, Clarke Chapel, paved
entry circle off Bridge Street, and many grass footpaths leading to gravesites in the old section.
Preliminary Recommendations
Future preservation efforts at the Bridge Street Cemetery will involve each of the four treatment
methods outlined by the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties with Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes (1996). They include:
Preservation, where existing form, integrity and materials of the landscape will be sustained;
Rehabilitation, where features in the landscape will be repaired or altered to make their use
compatible with the landscape’s historical value;
Restoration, where landscape features will be returned to their original form; and
Reconstruction, where landscape features no longer extant will be restored.
Based on the preceding assessment, the following preliminary recommendations should be considered
for the Preservation Master Plan. Note that the recommendations do not appear in order of importance
or priority.
Upgrade the Bridge Street, North Street, and a portion of the Parsons Street edge (from the
existing cemetery entrance southward) by removing the chain link fencing and replacing it with
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
an ornamental style iron fence to reflect the historic cast iron fence and also to complement
the nearby Lampron Park fencing.
Consider narrowing Parsons Street to accommodate one-way traffic, and widen the space
between the cemetery and street edge, adding a curb, sidewalk and street tree plantings.
Replace the chain link fencing around the remainder of the cemetery with black chain link,
and where possible plant groupings of trees to screen and soften the fence.
Establish a formal entrance or entrances to the cemetery, off Bridge and/or Parsons Streets,
marking with gate posts and operable gates.
Move the existing Parsons Street entrance to the north side of the cemetery (off North Street),
marking it with an operable gate.
Establish a hierarchy of vehicular routes within the cemetery, providing a stable surface on the
main route (oil and stone), and turf surfaces on the secondary routes.
Develop a sign program that includes welcome, road/pathway and interpretive signs.
Develop interpretive program that links digital information (databases) about the cemetery to
mobile devices.
Continue to care for the mature specimen trees, removing those that begin to decline.
Maintain the existing gravesite plantings and remove them as they decline.
As Norway maples begin to decline, remove them and replace with non-invasive species.
Develop a plan for replanting the trees, introducing a variety of species.
th
Maintain 20 century gravesite plantings as pruned shrubs as long as they remain healthy.
When they begin to become overgrown and/or to decline, remove them, but do not replace
them.
Begin to minimize the amount of turf in the cemetery by introducing perennial ground covers
whenever grades are disturbed.
Preserve the existing tombs according to the recommendations outlined in the Engineering
Assessment.
Stabilize the Bates mausoleum, with long term intent to restore the structure.
Treat the hazardous stones (priority #1) in both the old and new sections of the cemetery first,
followed by the priority #2 and #3 stones.
Consider upgrading the appearance of the existing maintenance shed to better reflect the
cemetery’s historic character.
Conduct a study of the existing water system that evaluates its condition and makes
recommendations for upgrades.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Re-establish the historic footpaths in the old section.
Consider re-designing the Parsons Street corridor between the cemetery and Lampron Park,
creating a more visually appealing entrance to the Bridge Street School and overall setting for
the cemetery and park.
Revisit the existing cemetery regulations and upgrade, as required, to include provisions for
limiting visitor hours and controlling dog and dog owner behavior.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
RECOMMENDATIONS
Preservation Projects
The following section organizes the preliminary recommendations of the Assessment section into a series
of thirteen “preservation projects.” To define the projects, the consultant team compiled the results of
the assessment with the outcome of the October 28, 2015 public forum where participants identified
the following needs:
enhance the image of the cemetery
To from the outside, looking in, by upgrading the existing
enclosure (fence or other means) and landscaping;
upgrade the existing entrance
To so that it is easier to find and welcomes visitors into the
cemetery;
enhance the overall circulation network
To by improving existing roadways and providing a
clear route for vehicles to follow;
upgrade the landscape to make it more park-like
To through the addition of new trees and
other site amenities; and
To attend to the gravestones and monuments
by treating those in need of conservation,
developing a complete inventory of graves and gravestones, and providing an easy means for
visitors to find graves.
To establish priorities for implementation, the city hosted a second public forum on February 11, 2016,
1
where participants were able to rank the twelve projects. Participants most preferred replacement of
the fence (Project #1); conservation of the priority #1 gravestones (Project #2); development of a sign
and interpretive program (Project #4) and development of a tree re-planting plan (Project #6). Detailed
summaries of the public forums appear in Appendix D: Public Engagement. Note that the City may opt
to re-order priorities as funding opportunities arise, and also may implement the projects (especially
gravestone conservation) in phases to manage financing.
Project #1: Cemetery Fence and Gates
Project #1 addressed the “curb appeal” of the cemetery, or its appearance from the street, and the need
to provide a clearly defined, well-marked, and dignified main entrance, as well as secondary entrances.
The existing chain link fencing will be removed, and replaced follows as:
5’-high ornamental iron (tubular steel) fence along Bridge Street (and returning along the east
cemetery edge for 200’), Parsons Street (to the cemetery’s northwest corner), north portion of
Orchard Street and North Street
Double-leaf 5’ high gates at the entrance off Parsons Street through the existing granite posts
th
(this gate may be constructed of ornamental iron OR cast iron to replicate the original 19
century fence design).
1
Note that Project #13 was added following the February 11, 2016 public forum.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Double leaf 5’ high gates at the entrance off North Street (northwest corner of the cemetery)
Single-leaf 5’ high gate at the entrance off Bridge Street (near the town tomb)
5’ high black vinyl chain link fencing along the cemetery edges abutting neighbors back yards
on Orchard and North Streets
Project #1 may be implemented in phases to spread the cost over several years. The city should
approach the phasing as follows to minimize the visual impact of a partially-completed enclosure:
Remove the existing fence along Bridge Street, 200’ along the east property line, and the
portion of Parsons Street rimming Lampron Park (approximately 1,000’); replace the fence
with ornamental iron, including one double-leaf gate at Parsons Street (ornamental iron OR
cast iron), and one single-leaf gate at Bridge Street.
Remove the existing fence along the remainder of Parsons Street (approximately 1300’); replace
the fence with ornamental iron.
Remove the existing fence along North Street and north end of Orchard Street (approximately
320’); replace the fence with ornamental iron, including one double-leaf gate at the cemetery’s
northwest corner.
Remove the existing fence behind the Parsons Street homes (approximately 340’); replace the
fence with black vinyl-coated chain link fence.
Remove the existing fence behind the Orchard Street homes (approximately 900’); replace the
fence with black vinyl-coated chain link fence, eliminating the existing make-shift pedestrian
“stepped” entrance.
The ornamental iron (tubular steel) fence should be of a style that mimics the original cast iron fence
and complements the new fence enclosing Lampron Park.
The historic cast iron fence is shown at left, contrasted with the new ornamental iron fence surrounding Lampron
Park.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Project #2 involves construction of a new fence system, consisting of a combination of ornamental iron (tubular
steel) and vinyl-coated chain link.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Project #3 involves creating a clearly-defined, permanently paved route to circle visitors through the cemetery.
Existing grassy paths would remain and missing paths would be revived.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Project #2: Conservation of Priority #1 Gravestones (Old and New Sections)
Project #2 will involve conservation treatment of a total of 85 gravestones (22 in the old section and 63
in the new section), identified in the Gravestone Assessment as “hazardous.” These markers are a danger
to themselves, to adjacent markers, and to passersby. Work will include photographing (before and
after conservation treatment, measuring, and fully documenting each stone, in addition to conserving
them according to recommendations in the Gravestone Assessment.
Project #3: Roadway and Paths
Project #3 will clarify circulation within the cemetery by (1) establishing a main vehicular route through
the cemetery and paving/repaving the route with oil and stone (chip seal) pavement to establish a firm
surface that melds with the historic character; and (2) restoring the system of grassy paths in the older
section. The main route will begin at the main entrance (off Parsons Street) and proceed northward on
“Main Avenue” to “Laurel Avenue,” turn east on Laurel and proceed to “Magnolia Avenue’” follow
Magnolia southward to “Wright Avenue” turn west on Wright, and reconnect at Main Avenue just
inside the Parsons Street gate. The entry circle to the south of the city and Wright tombs will be
repaved, connecting the Bridge Street gate to Wright Avenue. Strong, Barrett, and Orchard Avenues in
the new section will also receive the chip seal surface. This route would be plowed in winter, but the
grassy roads and paths would remain unplowed. Material excavated to create the main loop road
should be used to level grassy roads and paths.
Project #4: Sign and Interpretive Program
Project #4 will involve developing a coordinated sign program to welcome visitors, to mark roads and
paths, to instruct visitors where to park, and to provide interpretive information. The design of the
signs should complement the cemetery’s historic character, and signs should be constructed of like
materials and share a graphic style (including color, lettering, and images). The program should
include:
A welcome sign, listing hours of operation and hours of conduct, and the cemetery’s designation
within the Pomeroy Terrace National Register Historic District (when approved by the
National Park Service)
th
Road and path signs, reviving the names used in the 19 century
Parking signs, located in spots designated spots
Interpretive signs, located at selected prominent sites, explaining the history of the Bridge Street
Cemetery and importance of those interred within.
In conjunction with the sign program, an Internet-based application should be developed that allows
visitors to link with historical and interpretive information through mobile devices. The City may opt
to collaborate with students at the Bridge Street School, Historic Northampton or other educational
and/or historical organizations to create this interpretive tool.
Project #5: Conservation of Priority #2 Gravestones (Old and New Sections)
Project #5 will involve conservation treatment of a total of 84 gravestones (36 in the old section and 48
in the new section), identified in the Gravestone Assessment as “unstable.” These markers are wobbly on
their bases; have failing or failed repairs; or are extremely tilted. Some have fractured. Work will
include photographing (before and after conservation treatment, measuring, and fully documenting
each stone, in addition to conserving them according to recommendations in the Gravestone Assessment.
Project #6: Tree Re-planting Plan
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Project #6 will involve developing a plan for planting new trees to (replace desirable species that are in
decline; (2) diversify the population that remains; (3) replace existing invasive species (Norway maple);
(4) to plant new trees appropriate for each of the three historic cemetery styles. The overall design of
planting should aim to break up the cemetery into room-like spaces, and to keep the trees at the
exteriors of burial areas. Examples of tree species to add include:
Colonial Style
Amelanchier canadensis Shadblow Serviceberry
Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud
Franklinia alatamaha Franklin Tree
Larix laricina Tamarack
Liquidambar sytraciflua Sweetgum
Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore
Victorian Style
Cercidicphyllum japonica Katsuratree
Magnolia acuminate Cucumbertree Magnolia
Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden
Modern Style
Cedrus libani Cedar of Lebanon
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood
Sophora japonica Scholar-Tree
Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova
For additional tree species, refer to the Management section of the Preservation Master Plan.
Project #7: Tomb Stabilization
Project #7 will stabilize the Town (City) Tomb, Ansel Wright Tomb, Seth Wright Tomb, and Bates
Chapel Tomb, as follows:
Town Receiving Tomb: re-setting the wing walls and replacing capstones on the right wing wall;
repainting the door
Ansel Wright Tomb: re-setting the façade’s top stone and right wing wall; restoring and re-
hanging the original steel door
Seth Wright Tomb: repairing the brick façade, cleaning the brick, and re-setingt the stone door
Bates Tomb (short term stabilization): removing foundation plantings (yews); repairing existing
leaks; replacing missing windows
Project #8: Conservation of Priority #3 Gravestones (Old and New Sections)
Project #8 will involve conservation treatment of a total of 51 gravestones (20 in the old section and 31
in the new section) identified in the Gravestone Assessment and suffering from “ongoing deterioration.”
The stone conservator will evaluate the stones’ condition in the field, and proceed with treatment as
necessary.
Project #9: Cemetery Water System
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Project #9 will locate the existing water system, assess its condition, evaluate existing and future
watering needs within the cemetery, and make recommendations for repairs, replacement and
extension. Recommendations should take into account the need for water in the conservation
treatment of stones, the watering of new trees, and the possible re-location of the maintenance shed (see
Project #10, below).
Project #10: Cemetery Maintenance
Shed
Project #10 will involve one of two
options: (1) altering and repainting the
existing shed; or (2) relocating the shed.
Constructed by city crews in 1964 at a
cost of $5,000, this wood frame,
clapboard-sided structure lies at the
western end of Maple Avenue, wedged
inside the cemetery fence. Its
contemporary style conflicts with the
Victorian character of this part of the
cemetery. If it remains in the current
location, the project will including
raising the pitch of the roof, applying
board and batten (or similar) siding, and
painting the building an earth tone. If
By closing the existing Parsons Street entrance, space becomes available for
moved to the modern section, it can
the maintenance shed and parking. Evergreen trees can be planted to screen
remain the same size, shape and color.
the shed and parking from the adjacent cemetery.
Project #11: Bates Tomb Complete Restoration
Project #11 will advance the stabilization work accomplished in Project #7, and undertake several other
major repairs, including patching simple spalled areas with color-matching mortars and replacing
severely damaged stonework. The building will require full documentation prior to the start of
restoration (scaled drawings, photographs, mortar and stone samples), and post-restoration
photographs.
Project #12: Parsons Street Upgrades
Project #12, represents a long -term effort to upgrade the immediate environs of the cemetery along the
Parsons Street edges and create a more prominent, visually appealing entrance to the city from the east.
Parsons Street would be narrowed to one-way along the west side of the cemetery, and a curb and
sidewalk would be placed between the cemetery and street. Along the south side of the cemetery,
improvements would include a re-designed entrance to the Bridge Street School and with it, access to
the cemetery and Lampron Park. The project would require traffic analysis and cooperation of Parsons
Street neighbors.
Project #13: Cemetery Bench Program
The final project, #13 was added following the final public forum, where participants expressed interest
in making the cemetery more park-like. The scope of work will include establishing a program for
purchasing benches and receiving donations for benches; developing a plan for siting benches
throughout the cemetery landscape; and selecting a bench style. Benches should be made of one
material (or set of materials) and be of uniform style, and placed near entrances, along circulation
routes and next to interpretive signs.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Preservation Budget Projections
The following list assigns a preliminary budget to each of the preservation projects described above.
Note that the figures are merely projections, intended as guidelines for the City of Northampton to use
in setting fundraising goals. All figures are based on 2016 construction industry and conservation trade
rates. The work involved in some of the projects may be completed by cemetery crews, depending on
their capability.
Project #1: Cemetery Fence & Gates:
The costs for Project #1 divide amongst the phases outlined above, as follows:
Bridge Street (returning 200’ on the east cemetery edge) and east-west portion of Parsons Street
(approximately 1,000’), one single-leaf gate and one double-leaf gate: $50,000 - $60,000
The remainder of Parsons Street (approximately 1300’): $58,500 - $65,000
North Street and north end of Orchard Street (approximately 320’), including one double-leaf
gate: $14,400 - $20,000
Chain link fence behind the Parsons Street homes (approximately 340’): $8,500 - $12,000
Chain link fence behind the Orchard Street homes (approximately 900’): $22,500 - $27,000
Note: The budget projection includes the cost of an ornamental iron double-leaf gate at Parsons Street.
The price of cast iron gates will depend on the final gate design.
Project #2: Conservation of Priority #1 Gravestones (Old and New Sections): $41,750 - $47,280
The budget for Project #2 includes the cost of labor and material required to treat 85 hazardous
gravestones. Fees will include document the existing conditions of each stone (photographing,
documenting material, size, location, inscription and; and compiling condition); providing the
appropriate conservation treatment; photographing the stone after treatment is complete; compiling a
treatment report.
Project #3: Roadway and Paths: $114,000 - $200,750
The budget for Project #3 includes the cost of labor and material required to pave the proposed main
vehicular route through the cemetery with oil and stone (chip seal). In the older sections, a bituminous
asphalt base will be applied first, and the stone rolled on top. In the new section, where asphalt already
exists, oil and stone can be placed on top of the existing pavement. All other roads and paths should
be maintained with grass surfaces.
3,825 lf 10’ wide new bituminous road: $30/lf = $114,750
3,825 lf chip seal on new road: $20/lf = $76,500
475 lf chip seal only ($20/lf, 10’ wide roadway) = $9,500
Project #4: Sign and Interpretive Program: $7,500 - $10,000
The budget for Project #4 includes the cost to hire a professional graphic designer and database
technologist to create and detail designs for welcome, directional, and interpretive signs in the
cemetery, and to create an Internet-based application that allows visitors to link with historical and
interpretive information through mobile devices. Note: costs for fabricating and installing signs have not
been included in this budget.
Project #5: Conservation of Priority #2 Gravestones (Old and New Sections): $47,600 - $52,200
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
The budget for Project #3 includes the cost of labor and material required to treat 84 unstable
gravestones. Fees will include document the existing conditions of each stone (photographing,
documenting material, size, location, inscription and; and compiling condition); providing the
appropriate conservation treatment; photographing the stone after treatment is complete; preparing a
treatment report.
Project #6: Tree Replanting Plan: $5,000 - $7,500
The budget for Project #6 includes the cost of hiring a preservation landscape architect or similar
professional to prepare a planting plan for new trees, drawing from the list of recommended species
provided in the Management section of this plan. Note: costs for treating/removing trees and planting new
trees have not been included in this budget.
Project #7: Tomb Stabilization: $145,000 - $180,000
The budget for Project #7 includes costs to hire a structural engineer with experience in handling
historic structures to develop specifications, and a restoration specialist (or team of specialists) to
stabilize the Town Tomb, Ansel Wright Tomb, Seth Wright Tomb and Bates Chapel Tomb
(mausoleum). Work involves cleaning stone surfaces, repointing masonry, rehabilitating doors,
resetting/reconstructing wing walls, repairing windows and vents (Bates Tomb). The breakdown of this
budget is as follows:
Structural engineer (specifications): $10,000
Town Receiving Tomb: $40,000
Ansel Wright Tomb: $25,000
Seth Wright Tomb: $5,000
Bates Chapel Tomb (mausoleum): $75,000 - $100,000
Project #8: Conservation of Priority #3 Gravestones: $28,300 - $33,000
The budget for Project #8 includes the cost of labor and material required to treat 51 gravestones that
show signs of ongoing deterioration, and evaluate additional markers, as required. Fees will include
document the existing conditions of each stone (photographing, documenting material, size, location,
inscription and; and compiling condition); providing the appropriate conservation treatment;
photographing the stone after treatment is complete; preparing a treatment report.
Project #9: Cemetery Water System: $5,000 - $7,500
The budget for Project #9 includes the cost of hiring a plumbing engineer to locate and determine the
condition of the existing water system, and design upgrades and/or extensions to the system, taking
into account current and future needs. Note that the budget does not include the cost of implementing the
upgrades and extensions.
Project #10: Cemetery Maintenance Shed: $10,000 - $20,000
The budget for Project #10 includes the cost of labor and materials to upgrade the existing shed and/or
relocate the shed to the northwest corner of the cemetery (along Parsons Street). A more accurate
budget estimate can be established after a location decision has been made.
Project #11: Bates Tomb Complete Restoration: $300,000 - $500,000
The budget for a complete restoration of the Bates Tomb will involve conducting a thorough existing
conditions assessment (Historic Structure Report), and replacing several severely damaged stones. The
cost of obtaining matching stone and the level of detail of the replaced stones can vary greatly, and a
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
more accurate estimate can be established after the actual number of replacement stones is determined
(through completion of the Historic Structure Report).
Project #12: Parsons Street Upgrades: $50,000 - $75,000 (Design and Engineering Fees Only)
The budget for Project #12 cannot be determined until a design has been developed for this area, a task
that will require public engagement, surveying, permitting, along with design and engineering.
Project #13: Bench Program: $2,500 - $3,000 (Professional Fees Only)
The budget for Project #13 includes professional time to develop a bench program, preparing a site
plan for bench locations, and selecting a bench style.
Preservation Resources
The following organizations can supply advice, guidance and technical assistance for preservation
efforts in historic cemeteries. Those marked with an asterisk (*) provide financial assistance for
preservation activities. Note that funding priorities, award levels and application requirements for the
various funding organizations can frequently shift. The City of Northampton should contact each
resource for up-to-date information, prior to making an application.
The Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation. The Alliance in an organization of professionals
dedicated to the preservation and conservation of historic landscapes in all their variety from formal
gardens to public parks to rural and natural expanses. The organization provides a forum for
communication and exchange among its members.
The Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation
www.ahlp.org
American Association for State and Local History. This national organization provides leadership,
service and support for preservation and interpretation of state and local history, making the past more
meaningful in American society. The organization’s bookstore offers dozens of titles pertaining to
historic preservation.
American Society for State and Local History
1717 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203-2991
www.aaslh.org
The Association for Gravestone Studies. AGS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and
preservation of cemeteries and gravestones. Services include publications, a monthly newsletter,
quarterly journal and annual conference.
The Association for Gravestone Studies
Greenfield Corporate Center
101 Munson Street, Suite 108
Greenfield, MA 01301
www.gravestonestudies.org
Association for Preservation Technology International. The Association for Preservation Technology
International (APT) is a cross-disciplinary, membership organization dedicated to promoting the best
technology for conserving historic structures and their settings.
Association for Preservation Technology International
3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 200
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Springfield, IL 62703
www.apti.org
Northeast Chapter:
northeastapt@gmail.com
Cultural Landscape Foundation. The Cultural Landscape Foundation seeks donations and gifts from
corporations, individuals, private foundations and government grants to increase awareness and public
benefit for cultural landscapes listed on, or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Project
support emphasizes interpretation, education, outreach, and public awareness.
Cultural Landscape Foundation
1711 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20009
www.tclf.org
Heritage Preservation. This organization works to ensure the preservation of American’s cultural
heritage, offering programs and publications relating to care of books, documents, architecture,
sculpture and other artifacts. Its Save Outdoor Sculpture! program is a grass-roots effort to help local
organizations preserve sculpture and monuments.
Heritage Preservation
th
1012 14 Street, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005
www.heritagepreservation.org
Massachusetts Cultural Council.* As the state arts agency of Massachusetts, MCC provides grants to
organizations in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.
Massachusetts Cultural Council
rd
10 St. James Avenue, 3 Floor
Boston, MA 02116
www.massculturalcouncil.org
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities.* This state program of the National Endowment for
the Humanities supports discussion groups, workshops, conferences, lecture series, radio programs,
films, and video projects in the humanities.
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
66 Bridge Street
Northampton, MA 01060
www.mfh.org
Massachusetts Historical Commission.* MHC is Massachusetts’s state historic preservation office,
maintaining the State Register of Historic Places, overseeing all nominations made to the National
Register of Historic Places, and providing funding for preservation activities of many types.
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
National Center for Preservation Technology & Training.* A program of the United States
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, the NCPTT awards grants for information
management, training and research on technical issues in preservation, with an emphasis on
archaeology, historic architecture, historic landscapes, objects and materials conservation and
interpretation.
National Center for Preservation Technology & Training
645 University Parkway
Natchitoches, LA 71457
www.ncptt.nps.gov
National Trust for Historic Preservation.* The trust is the leading national advocacy organization for
historic preservation, providing funding for preservation-related activities through several programs.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
www.nthp.org
Northampton Community Preservation Committee.* The Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
is the local entity, appointed by the Mayor, to implement the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in
Northampton. By adopting the CPA, Northampton was able to create a local Community Preservation
Fund to raise money through a surcharge of up to three percent of the real estate tax levy on real
property for open space protection, historic preservation and the provision of affordable housing.
These funds are matched by the state. Many Massachusetts communities that have adopted the CPA
have supported preservation efforts in their historic cemeteries and burial grounds.
Northampton Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street
Room 11 City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
http://www.northamptonma.gov/1048/Community-Preservation-Committee
Preservation Massachusetts. This state-wide non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving the
state’s cultural and historic resources through advocacy, education and community revitalization. In
partnership with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Preservation Massachusetts sponsors an
annual meeting – a day-long gathering with symposia and workshops, and an announcement of the
Commonwealth’s most endangered resources.
Preservation Massachusetts
34 Main Street Extension
Suite #401
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.preservationmass.org
National Preservation Institute. This nonprofit organization provides preservation information,
knowledge, and skills to train and guide the stewards of historic and cultural places through seminars in
historic preservation and cultural resource management.
National Preservation Institute
P. O. Box 1702
Alexandria, VA 22313
www.npi.org
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Society of Architectural Historians, Landscape History Chapter. This membership-based professional
organization encourages research in landscape, gardening, and horticultural history, and promotes the
dissemination of such research through publications, meetings and lectures. It also provides a forum for
the exchange of ideas related to these disciplines through events and programs, and promotes
conservation, preservation, and recording of significant landscapes.
Society of Architectural Historians
Landscape History Chapter
1365 North Astor Street
Chicago, IL 60610-2144
www.sahlandscape.org
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
MANAGEMENT
This final section of the Preservation Master Plan will help the City of Northampton crews care for the
landscape. It includes strategies for care of the plants (trees and ground cover) and structures, and
provides a maintenance schedule. By following this guide, the city and cemetery crews will help insure
the long term health of this important historic resource.
Cemetery Ordinance
In an effort to preserve the cemetery landscape in the long term, the city should regularly revisit the
existing cemetery ordinance to ensure that provisions for maintaining the landscape are clearly defined
and sufficient to meet existing and future management needs. Updates to the ordinance should be
made as required. Included in this should be a declaration of fines to be imposed on persons violating
the ordinance. Appropriate sections of the ordinance should appear on cemetery “welcome” signs.
Management Log
Before beginning to care for the landscape, the cemetery superintendent should set up a “management
log,” or ongoing written record of inspections, repairs, and introduction of new features, listed by date.
The log should include methods and materials employed, as well as names and contact information for
any specialists employed in the cemetery’s care. The log should be stored, in both electronic and
manual (hard copy) formats, in a secure location.
Plants
Existing Plants: Trees
Before the city undertakes any measure to treat the property’s trees, they should consult a tree specialist,
and preferably a Massachusetts-certified and International Society of Arborists (ISA)-certified
professional. This individual is trained to assess the health of aging plants and prescribe appropriate
care. General guidelines for tree care are as follows:
Once per year in late winter, consult an arborist about the general health of the trees. Ask the
arborist:
If any of the trees or branches are dead, broken or in any way hazardous. These need to be
removed as soon as possible for safety.
If the trees are free of disease, and if not, how the disease should be treated.
If the diseased branches/sections of the tree should be removed, or if the entire tree should
be removed to protect the health of neighboring trees.
If the trees need fertilizing, and if so, what they should be fed, how they should be fed, and
how often they should be fed.
If root suckers or other growth should be removed to ensure the health and beauty of the
tree.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Test the cemetery’s soil for quality in relationship to the tree population. The test will detect any
soil deficiencies, and determine a remedy for correcting them. Soil can be tested by a soils
professional, or through the University of Massachusetts Extension Program, located in Amherst.
Provide and install cables to help any weakly-joined limbs.
Treat trees with a systemic insecticide to minimize stress caused by leaf feeding pests.
Prune trees, removing all dead wood greater than −” in diameter.
Create mulch rings around the base of each tree, as wide as possible and up to the diameter of the
tree crown. Shape the rings into saucers (with the low point at the center), rather than volcano-like
mounds. In places where gravestones lie near or adjacent to trees, avoid accumulating mulch
around the stones.
Where soil has built up at the base of trees, remove enough to expose the root collar.
Remove any dead or dying trees.
Existing Plants: Ground Covers & Turf
The city should make an effort to retain existing ground covers and encourage their growth, as they
minimize the need for mowing, cutting down on maintenance tasks. Each should be allowed to bloom,
wither, and cast their seeds before they are mown, allowing them to multiply. Weed killers and other
such herbicides should not be used where there plants are growing (some species may be classified as
“weeds”).
To sustain healthy turf lawns, the city may use to the following mowing and fertilizing guidelines:
Fertilize sparingly, as too much fertilized can cause grass to grow too rapidly, requiring more
mowing and making the plants more susceptible to disease. Not enough fertilizer can result in
weaker plants that are more susceptible to disease of stress brought on by drought.
Apply fertilizer three times per year – around Memorial Day and Labor Day, and finally,
around Halloween.
Do NOT fertilize in mid-summer. At this time of year, roots have become dormant. Fertilizer
will cause the leaves to grow, making the plants less tolerant of drought, heat and disease.
Follow these fertilizing instructions:
– apply 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1,000 sf (with 50% of Nitrogen
Memorial Day
slow-release). Use an N:P:K Ratio of 14-14-14.
- apply 2 pounds of Nitrogen per 1,000 sf (with 50% of Nitrogen slow-
Labor Day
release). Use an N:P:K Ratio of 14-14-14.
- apply 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1,000 sf (with 75% of Nitrogen slow-
Halloween
release). Use an N:P:K Ratio of 28-3-9.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
When mowing, remove no more than one-third of the height of the turf at one time,
always leaving twice as much leaf height as is cut.
The best level for mown grass is 2 ½ inches, with 2 to 3 ½ inches the range.
It is best to mow lawns on an as-needed basis, not on a regular schedule, such as once per
week.
New Plants: Trees
The Recommendations section of this plan includes an effort to plant new trees within the cemetery. In
selecting new trees to plant, the city should aim to diversify the tree species within the cemetery while,
at the same time, choosing species appropriate for each historic cemetery style (refer to Historical
Development of the Bridge Street Cemetery for a description and location of each style).
Colonial Style
Amelanchier canadensis Shadblow Serviceberry
Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud
Cladrastus kentukea Kentucky Coffeetree
Franklinia alatamaha Franklin Tree
Larix laricina Tamarack
Liquidambar sytraciflua Sweetgum
Nyssa sylvatica Northern Black Tupelo
Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore
Victorian Style
Cercidicphyllum japonica Katsuratree
Gingko biloba Gingko
Magnolia acuminate Cucumbertree Magnolia
Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry Viburnum
Modern Style
Cedrus libani Cedar of Lebanon
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood
Sophora japonica Scholar-Tree
Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova
Newly planted trees are unlikely to survive if they do not receive special care and attention, particularly
in the first few years after planting. In general, adhere to the following care guidelines:
Plant in the spring or fall, and never during the heat of summer.
Utilize crews working under the supervision of a Massachusetts-certified arborist, or hire a
landscape contracting company to plant trees. Trees that are planted correctly will be far more
likely to survive and thrive, and the arborist/landscape company should exercise the best tree
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
planting practices. Landscape contractors should guarantee all trees for one year after planting.
However, the guarantee is valid only if the plants have been properly cared for.
If staking new trees is necessary, be sure to remove stakes and guy-wires within one year of
planting. If the trees appear to need some kind of individual protection because of their
location, build a simple fence rather than leaving the guy-wires on. Wires can damage and will
eventually kill the tree if left in place too long.
Provide the trees with at least one inch of water each week. This water can be supplied by
rainfall or by supplemental watering. Spreading one inch of water using a hose attached to an
exterior water spigot takes approximately two-three hours. Water must soak deep into the soil
to encourage good root growth and overall plant health. Adjust the flow of water so it has time
to sink into the ground, reducing the pressure if small “rivers” develop. The water should sink
into the ground around the tree or shrub, rather than flowing away.
If drought dominates the fall, be sure to water trees well before the ground freezes, protecting
the plants from entering winter in dry soil.
Mulch plants to help control weeds and keep moisture in the soil (and maintain a neat
appearance in the landscape). Use composted pine bark mulch that has been aged a minimum
of three months. Apply the mulch to a depth no greater than three inches. Each spring, fluff
the existing mulch and add more, as needed. Keep mulch away from the stems or trunks of
trees and shrubs, and off shrub branches (to minimize decay and prevent insect infestations).
Prune trees and shrubs to enhance their natural form and appearance, and to help maintain
their health. Enlist the expertise of a professional or person trained in proper pruning
practices. Prune only by hand (never use electric pruners). Prune broken branches
immediately to prevent disease.
New Plants: Ground Covers
As previously mentioned, ground covers add beauty to the cemetery landscape and minimize the need
for mowing. In shady areas, the city should select shade-tolerant species, indicated by asterisks (“*”),
below.
Ajuga reptans Bugleweed
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry
Asarum canadense* Wild Ginger
Cornus canadensis* Bunchberry
Erythronium albidum* White Trout Lily
Fern spp. * Ferns
Gallium odoratum Sweet Woodruff
Housatonia caerulea Bluets
Lamium spp. Dead Nettle
Phlox stolonifera Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata Moss Pink
Sedum Stonecrop
sp reflexum, sp. cauticola,
sp. anglicum, sp.bBrevifolium
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Thymus serpyllum Creeping Thyme
Voila canadensis* Canadian Violet
Waldsteinia ternate Barren Strawberry
No- Shrub Policy
Shrubs in the cemetery largely lie alongside individual gravesites, providing families an opportunity for
individual expression and personal commemoration. Unfortunately, gravesite shrub plantings are
thth
inconsistent with the cemetery’s predominantly 18 and 19 century design (a concept introduced in
th
the 20 century). Furthermore, they present long-term maintenance problems. They quickly become
overgrown, obscuring grave markers and complicating lawn mowing. For the most part, families do not
maintain shrub plantings, leaving the arduous pruning, shaping, and feeding tasks to cemetery
maintenance crews.
As part of the planting policy for the cemetery, the city should adopt a “no new shrub” rule. As existing
shrubs mature and die, they should be removed and replaced. Instead, the city should ask families to
donate trees to the cemetery allowing for the replacement of dead trees with new, needed species.
Fences
The Recommendations section of this plan provides long-term approaches to treating the cemetery’s
perimeter fences. To care for existing fences as well as newly-installed ones, the city can undertake the
following methods to prevent deterioration:
Clear volunteer tree, shrub and vine growth from around the fences. Allowing these to grow in
and around these structures not only contributes to their decay, it creates an overall unkempt
appearance, and detracts from the cemetery’s “curb appeal.”
Inspect the fences twice yearly for deterioration, such as peeling, leaning or damage to
individual sections. If deterioration is detected, consult an experienced fence contractor.
Gravestones
The city should regularly inspect the gravestones and monuments for signs of damage or decay, and if
found, consult a conservation professional. Under no circumstances should untrained individuals
attempt to repair grave markers, as improper treatment of stones can lead to further deterioration.
Conservation professionals will employ treatments that help stabilize the stones for many, many years,
however because the stones lie exposed to weather and are vulnerable to vandalism, further
deterioration is always possible.
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Bridge Street Cemetery Preservation Master Plan
Management Schedule
January - When removing snow from the cemetery’s roadways, minimize (or eliminate
March altogether) the use of salt.
April Inspect the fences and gravestones for damage that may have occurred over
the winter. Consult a specialist about repairing any major damage.
Remove leaves from inside the cemetery.
May Inspect trees for damage that may have occurred over the winter and note
any needs for pruning and removals.
Begin mowing turf on an as-needed basis to a height no less than 2-1/2
inches.
Around Memorial Day, fertilize turf areas (14-14-14).
Plant new trees and groundcovers, as required.
June Conduct pruning and removals of trees.
Continue mowing turf on an as-needed basis to a height no less than 2-1/2
inches.
Continue to plant new trees and groundcovers, and grassy areas, as
required.
July Continue mowing turf on an as-needed basis to a height no less than 2-1/2
inches. Suspend mowing during hot, dry periods.
August Continue mowing turf on an as-needed basis to a height no less than 2-1/2
inches. Suspend mowing during hot, dry periods.
Around Labor Day, fertilize turf areas (14-14-14).
September Continue mowing turf on an as-needed basis to a height no less than 2-1/2
inches.
Resume planting of new trees and groundcovers, and lawns, as required
Inspect fences and gravestones for damage that may have occurred over the
summer. Consult a specialist about repairing any major damage.
October Around Halloween, fertilize turf areas (28-3-9).
November When removing snow from around the cemetery’s roadways, minimize (or
- eliminate altogether) the use of salt.
December
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