1856-01 Annual Report of the Trustees of the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Together with the Reports of the Treasurer and Superintendent. January, 1856.

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ANNUAL REPORT

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Annual Reports of the Trustees Treasurer & Superintendent

January 1856 to 1871

Secretary's Dep^t

Not to be taken from his office.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Annual Reports to the Proprietors

Vol. I.

1856 to 1870

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

TRUSTERS

OF THE

MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY,

TOGETHER WITH THE REPORTS OF THE TREASURER AND SUPERINTENDENT.

JANUARY, 1856.

BOSTON: 1856, J. H. EASTBURN’S PRESS.

MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY.

The Trustees of Mount Auburn Cemetery, are gratified in being able to report that the property of the Corporation remains as heretofore, in a secure and satisfactory state.

A considerable sum has been expended during the last year, in repairing, grading and paving at the sides, some of the principal avenues. Many of the superfluous trees have been removed, and the branches of others trimmed away, so that the whole ground has a more finished and ornamental appearance than it before possessed. Much remains still to be done in the judicious and careful prosecution of these and similar improvements.

The westerly portion of Garden pond, near Central avenue, has justly been considered a blemish to Mount Auburn, on account of the stagnant condition of the water, and the muddiness of the banks and bottom. A contract has been made for filling up this pond with gravel from the neighboring hill, for the sum of $850. The earth will be raised about six and a half feet above the present surface of the water, by which operation the Corporation will gain more than an acre of valuable land in one of the most eligible parts of the Cemetery.

Some preparatory arrangements have been made for the occupation of the Stone farm purchased last year by the Trustees. The principal avenues have been prospectively surveyed and planted with young trees at suitable distances. Nearly the whole of these trees were in healthy condition at the end of the summer.

The Chapel has been taken down as far as the base course, and rebuilt during the past season, in a strong and durable manner. The blemished and insufficient stones inserted by the unfaithfulness of the contractors, have been replaced with others of proper size and appearance, and the character of the building is now in all respects satisfactory as to strength, solidity, and durability. No change has been made in the design except by the introduction of some additional ornament outside. The interior walls not being sufficiently dry the painting is deferred till next season.

The Statues intended to occupy the interior of the Chapel are all in progress, under contracts made with artists of high eminence in their profession. The statue of Gov. Winthrop is to be executed by Richard Greenough,— that of James Otis by Thomas Crawford,—that of John Adams by Randolph Rogers,—that of Judge Story is by William W. Story. The model statuettes