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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
Cemetery of Mount Auburn,
TOGETHER WITIH
THE REPORTS
OF THE
TREASURER AND SUPERINTENDENT.
JANUARY, 1865.
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BOSTON: 1865. J. H. EASTBURN’S PRESS.
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT.
THE original character of Mount Auburn was that of an undulating tract of land, covered for two-thirds of its extent with a growth of wood, and diversified in its surface by abrupt hills and overflowed or swampy depressions. At first, attention was mainly paid to improving the more eligible parts of the ground, which were the earliest taken up by purchasers. But as land in the Cemetery became more valuable, it was found profitable, in many instances, to level hills and banks, and with the removed earth to fill up the depressed and boggy portions of the unoccupied space. In this way several acres of central and valuable land have been gradually redeemed and put on sale for cemetery purposes.
The principal operations of this kind, during the last year, have consisted in taking off the crown of Laurel Hill to the depth of about fourteen feet, with the consent of Francis Fisher, Esq., proprietor of the lots situated above. The effect of this improvement is to increase greatly the area at the top of the hill, so that after reserving to Mr. Fisher the amount of land originally occupied by him, a space is obtained for an avenue eighteen feet wide round the summit, with a row of lots exterior to this avenue, symmetrically laid out, all of which have been quickly sold at advanced prices and are now bordered with granite curbs. The gravel removed by this operation has been used in grading the sides of the hill and in filling the neighboring bog on the opposite side of Walnut Avenue and south of Thistle Path. This bog is in process of being reclaimed, and will probably, before next spring, be converted into solid land. The hill-side between this and Anemone Path has been changed into a smooth sodded bank, running parallel to that path for about four hundred feet. Near the bottom of this bank a new carriage-way is constructed called Mound Avenue,
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extending from Spruce to Walnut Avenues. Some of the most valuable lots in the Cemetery will be for sale in this new land during the coming season.
A new avenue called Halcyon Avenue has been commenced on the easterly side of what has heretofore been called Garden Pond, and many lots have been sold and finished upon it. By a prospective plan, now in the hands of the lithographer, this avenue is to be continued around a circular water basin called Halcyon Lake. On the banks of this lake will be laid out some of the most eligible lots in, Mount Auburn.
A blacksmith’s shop, carpenter’s shop and tool house, all of which are rendered necessary by the increased work of the establishment, have been put up adjoining the engine house, forming with it a continuous structure. A new side gate for teams has been opened on the east side, opposite the engine house, from considerations of convenience and economy.
The office of Gardener to Mount Auburn having been abolished by the Trustees, the business of cultivation and sale of plants and flowers has been placed in the hands of the Superintendent, without loss to the Cemetery.
The growth and gradual encroachment of forest trees during the last thirty years has been, by excluding the sunlight from the ground, a great and increasing evil. Before the general occupation of the land by individual proprietors, any desired part of these trees could have been removed without expense, the cost of felling being balanced by the sale of the wood. But now, only a few trees can be felled in the common way, on account of the danger of damage to the neigboring works of art. So that in most places trees can only be removed with safety by cutting off and lowering the branches separately with ropes, a slow and expensive process, which the sale of the wood does not repay. Nevertheless the work is being gradually accomplished, and a separate gang of men are continually employed, who, it is expected, will remove a third part of the most objectionable trees during the present winter.
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The granite facade furnished by the contractors for a catacomb or receiving tomb, not proving satisfactory, the Trustees have declined to accept it, and the work of that structure still remains unfinished.
In conformity to the vote of the Proprietors, passed at their last annual meeting, the suit against Mr. Jonathan Mann, late Superintendent, has been discontinued, and the money deposited by him as security, has been refunded to him.
During the past year the Corporation have experienced a great loss in the death of Charles P. Curtis, Esq., one of the oldest and most efficient members of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Curtis came into the Board in 1833, two years after its establishment. During a period of more than thirty years he has served the Corporation with great zeal and fidelity, and has brought to its service his extensive practical experience and great legal accomplishment. He was among the foremost in all useful endeavors to carry out the original design, and to promote judicious measures for the preservation, security and embellishment of the Cemetery. The public buildings and enclosures, the historic statuary, the permanent accumulating fund, and the prudently reserved areas of vacant space, all received from him an active and cordial support. His genial and familiar face had become almost identified with the sittings of the Board, and will long be missed by those who had enjoyed the pleasure of his presence and coöperation.
At different times since the incorporation of Mount Auburn Cemetery, the attention of Proprietors has been called by the Trustees to the important subject of the future preservation and perpetual repair of their individual lots. It will be seen by the By-Laws, that this object may be effected in two ways, either by contracting specially, in the manner there provided for the perpetual preservation and repair of a given lot, or by depositing with the Treasurer a certain sum, the interest of which only will be annually appropriated by the Trustees to such repair and preservation. The common prudence which leads a man to attend to the preservation of his worldly goods during lite, and to the disposal of them after his death, should lead him to a similar care of the place which is herafter to contain his remains, and those of his kindred.
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Whenever the restricted circumstances of an individual prevent him from making the requisit arrangements during life, he should at least make suitable provision to the same effect by his will. The mode of protecting this part of his estate from dilapidation and decay has already been pointed out. If he desires still further to protect the contents of his lot from disturbance or desecration by those who in future time may, as heirs or assigns, become arbiters of this property, he can best effect this object by placing this part of his property in trust, either with the Trustees of Mount Auburn, or with such other parties as he may prefer, with such conditions as he may see fit to dictate. and they to accept.
Various parties have at times expressed a desire that all the lots in Mount Auburn should be kept in repair at the expense of the Corporation. A moment’s consideration will show that such an arrangement would be ruinous and therefore impossible. The lots, after the whole ground shall have been taken up could not by a reasonable computation be kept in suitable order by an outlay of ten or more probably of twenty thousand dollars per annum, an expense which would conduct the institution to insolvency in a short period of time.
By the Treasurer’s Report it will be seen that the financial affairs of the Corporation are in a prosperous state. The Permanent Fund amounts to $43,944.71. The Repair Fund has $24,276.74, and there remains in cash and invested disposable property a balance of $32,734.48.
For the Trustees,
JACOB BIGELOW, President.
Boston, January, 1865.
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