Prospect Hill Cemetery Association
P O Box 3066
Nantucket, MA 02584
508-825-9955
_____________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2010
Contact:
Jeff Morash 508-228-7371
Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery to Offer New Burial Options
and a Glimpse of the Past
Prospect Hill Cemetery received approval from the Nantucket Historic District Commission (HDC) to construct a cremation garden that will increase the community’s choices for burial and ensure that space will be available for future generations to be buried with their ancestors.
The tranquil garden, which will be designed by Carroll Associates Landscape Architects, will contain 500 niche openings along tiered granite walls built into the hillside for the placement of cremated remains.
“We are very excited about this project,” said Theresa Davis, president Prospect Hill Cemetery Association’s Board of Trustees. “The trend for cremation has been rising steadily and we are committed to offering the families we serve with burial options to meet their changing needs in a manner that complements and preserves the historic character of the cemetery.”
The HDC reviewed the plans very carefully during the one year approval process. In addition, Jeff Morash, superintendent at Prospect Hill Cemetery, and Dual Macintyre, vice president of Prospect Hill Cemetery Association presented the columbarium plans to the local veterans group who enthusiastically endorsed the project which will enhance the cemetery’s veterans area. The design of the columbarium includes a five-star feature to be built around the flagpole. Each point of the star will be designated for one of the armed forces.
Monument Assessment
The Prospect Hill Cemetery Association (PHCA) is conducting a stone-by-stone assessment of markers and monuments in the older sections of the cemetery. The survey is being conducted by Ivan Myjer, of Building and Monument Conservation, and funded with a grant courtesy of The Nancy Sayles Day Foundation.
Walking Tour Book in Development
One of the best ways to learn about a community is by visiting its cemeteries. Prospect Hill Cemetery is making it easier for the residents of Nantucket to learn about the area’s history by offering a book that outlines a walking tour of the cemetery. The publication chronicle many of the persons interred at the historic cemetery. Proceeds from the book, will be used for monument preservation, conservation and restoration.
Excerpts from the publication, which was researched and written by Paula Lundy Levy, are posted on the cemetery’s website www.prospecthillcemetery.com.
“We are a very active, get-it-done group,” said Ms. Davis. “Much of our success has been through the help of our advisor and mentor, Bernard Stoecklein, CEO of CMS Mid-Atlantic, Inc. His generous donation of time, extensive knowledge and resources have been invaluable in guiding us through the process of restoring, improving and managing Prospect Hill Cemetery.”
In 2007, Prospect Hill Cemetery became a 501 (c) (3) organization and is able to accept tax-deducible donations for is many improvement projects.
