Restoration Planned for Maplewood Cemetery
The Jewish Cemetary Association of Massachusetts plans to transform the once abandoned Jewish cemetery into a historic landmark.
As part of a new restoration and preservation initiative, The Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts (JCAM) plans to transform the former Maplewood Cemetery in Malden – a once abandoned Jewish cemetery – into an historic Jewish landmark and tourist destination dedicated to the long forgotten children resting there.
The Hebrew Charitable Burial Ground, located at 313 Lebanon Street, is the final resting place for more than 1,400 decedents, of which 760 were children under the age of one and 679 between the ages of one to twenty years old. The cemetery was the resting place for Boston’s poorest immigrant Jews who were unable to afford cemetery plots in congregational cemeteries. Many of these are buried in unmarked graves.
The Hebrew Charitable Burial Ground is the 2nd oldest Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts, established in 1851. JCAM will be submitting this site for a nomination into the National Register of Historic Places.
The plans include a new entrance gate and fence with granite posts that will surround this sacred ground. New pathways of sandstone will be designed and installed, and new granite steps will lead visitors to the children’s garden and memorial (artists’ rendering below).
The restored Hebrew Charitable Burial Ground will attract those visitors who want to incorporate this historic landmark as part of Jewish Boston’s tourism destination.
About 15% of the funds needed for the project have been committed. Another $100,000 is needed for the work to be completed.
JCAM owns and manages over 100 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts and is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation and continuity of Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts. (www.jcam.org)
To learn more about how you can help fulfill this important historic project, tax-deductible donations can be made payable to:
JCAM Charitable Foundation
189 Wells Ave.
Newton, MA 02459
Joe Gray
10:19 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I hope the fence is high and goes "all" the way around. I live next door and don't want to deal with the foot traffic that "will" wander into my yard.
I hope there's a consideration and plan to deal with future gang activity and drug use there. That had been a problem in the past and the police had to be called on occasion when living bodies were sprawled drunk near the back of the cemetery.
I always agree to let the police and ambulance services park in my driveway to cart the bodies away, but I have mixed emotions about this renovation.
The renovation is long overdue. I'm hoping upkeep keeps pace with the seasons.
broadway Jay
12:33 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Joe, your one of the few posters that I always make a point to read. I should post more, but your always well-worded and to the point !!