News & Features
May 2005

A memorial from the past, a monument for the future
By Ron Couture
Brookfield Historical Commission

It was Saturday noon, and the sun was bright. Its light on the dried leaves reflected into the shadows of the stones giving off a warm glow against the cool slate. I picked up a rusted memorial star, placed it against a broken grave marker and walked along the dirt road that marks a path through the fields of past lives.

Capt John Wolcott, May 30, 1802, age 72, Mrs. Rebecca Wolcott wife of John, Aug 11, 1806, age 69, Hephzibah, daughter of John & Rebecca Wolcott, 1846, age 76. I looked up from reading this litany and was blinded by the sun’s light. In the distance, I could faintly see a truck rounding the corner and stopping by several people talking together. They were pointing to the trees and the ground, their arms waving like generals giving instructions to their troops. I walked faster to get to them and join them in the discussion that many of us had worked three years to get to. We were all here to begin a concerted effort to preserve this accumulating time capsule of our town and its life through the centuries—our cemetery.

As most of you know, the Cemetery and Historical Commissions took on the task over five years ago of applying and attaining a Preservation & Management Plan for the town’s cemetery. This plan puts the cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places and establishes a management plan that follows the guidelines set forth by the National Park Service. The special pride that we have in this project is that it puts our cemetery on same list as other important historic places such as the cemeteries of Salem, Boston and the famous Hope Cemetery of Cambridge. It allows us to apply for grants that we might otherwise not be able to apply for. And, it calls to attention the importance of our past and connects it to our present time.

Last fall, the Cemetery Commission was given an anonymous gift of $50,000 toward the estimated $250,000 needed to restore and preserve our cemetery’s historic landscape. This money was given with the understanding that it is “seed money” for raising the balance of the needed funds. It establishes the base for a Preservation Fund; additional matching monies from the same anonymous donor of up to $25,000 can be attained through donations from families, friends and interested citizens. We must reach our goal of $25,000 as soon as possible to be given the matching funds. Each penny and dollar donated will bring us double the amount and is tax deductible as a donation.

Donate for yourself or in memory of someone. You will receive a Framed Memorial Certificate for a gift of $50 or more. Be a part of our community effort to help preserve this very historic landscape that traces our town’s past and reaches into the future.

Make checks payable to Town of Brookfield Cemetery Preservation Fund and send to:

Treasurer, Town of Brookfield
Brookfield Town Hall
6 Central Street
Brookfield, MA 01506