By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
To celebrate Walpole's 300th anniversary, many people are looking back at the rich history of the town. History is packed into the town's cemeteries, which is why the Walpole Historical Society is hosting cemetery tours for residents.
The second of six tours took place at Maple Grove Cemetery located on Kendall Street. This is one of the town's larger cemeteries, which got its name from the maple trees that dot the property. Throughout the years some of the trees have been removed to make room for more memorials.
These tours have been a year in the making for Laurie Kearney and the historical society. For Kearney, these tours are “A little Walpole history and a little cemetery history.” This tour was co hosted by Anne LePage who shared insights on burial traditions for early Walpole residents. These include carving to represent those buried in certain locations. Lambs honor children, clasped hands show meeting again in the next life, open books represent the bible, palm fronds dictate power over death and so much more.
The group walked through the cemetery and visited graves where important historical figures to Walpole were laid to rest. Walpole icons in Maple Grove include the Plimpton family, Issac Newton Lewis and many others who have locations throughout town named for them. Maple Grove is one of two cemeteries in Walpole that contain a Potter's Field which is where poor, enslaved or prisoners were buried. These fields were affordable options without headstones for those looking to bury loved ones.
LaPage helped clean off some grave markers prior to the tour. When asked how local people can help to clean and restore graves LaPage suggested using D2 and lots of water. “If you wouldn’t use it to clean your car don’t use it to clean a gravestone”. Many headstones are made of marble so cleaning them can be a large undertaking, but once clean they will shine in the sun.
The tours of local cemeteries will be running most Saturdays through October 19th. A list of cemeteries and dates can be found on the Walpole Historical Society's Facebook page.
