hanover-cemetery-dh38-5851-9-093-010

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>Lot No. 93 (con.) (9)

November 30, 1955.

President John Sloan Dickey,
Dartmouth College,
Hanover, New Hampshire,

Dear Mr. Dickey;

May I call to your attention a matter that has
been in my mind for some time.

During the summer of 1954, the College replaced the
broken tablestone of Mary Brinsmead Wheelock in the
Wheelock lot of the Dartmouth Cemetery.

When the tablestone and supporting stones were
removed, a slate stone with inscriptions was found at
the ground level. Also a companion stone was found
under the tablestone of Eleazar Wheelock. The two
stones were removed to the College storehouse.

Recently, I went to the storehouse to copy the
inscriptions. The stones lie on the floor with the
inscribed surfaces uppermost and are surrounded by
all kinds of storage material. Stored on the stones
were: a crated object so heavy that two men were
needed to remove it; a 25 pound pail seemingly of
roofing cement and a large, heavy metal fan.

In removing the objects, the men walked on the stones
as freely as on the floor. A few days later,
thinking that I had misread a date, I returned to
find that the same objects had been placed back
on the stones.

Already chips are broken away from the inscribed
surfaces and, at two spots, the lettering is no
longer readable. I predict that, in the end, their
destination will be the junk pile.

While I have not as yet unearthed sufficient evidence,
I am of the belief that these are the stones placed by,
John Wheelock in 1810. In any case, these stones were
placed as a memorial to Mary Brinsmead and Eleazar
Wheelock and were never intended for display in
museums or similar places.
]yes, see Risley mss

It is my opinion as well as that of others with whom
I have talked that the only place where these stones
should be lodged is the place where they were found.
It would seem that, if a recent history of these stones
were to be written, it might be given the title of
Respectable Vandalism.

Sincerely yours,

Arthur H. Chivers

See pages 10,11,&12