1869-01 Annual Report of the Trustees of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn, Together with the Reports of the Treasurer and Superintendent. January, 1869.

ANNUAL REPORT

TRUSTEES

OF THE

Cemetery of

TOGETHER WITH

OF THE ~

TREASURER AND SUPERINTENDENT.

JANUARY, 1869.

BOSTON: 1869.

J. H. EASTBURN’S PRESS.

TRUSTEES’ REPORT. " Aone the occurrences worthy of note in the last year’s history of Mount Auburn, is the purchase of two lots or pieces of land situated on the outside of the Cemetery, and separated from it by an intervening road. One of these, sometimes called the “Stone Meadow,” is situated on the easterly side of Coolidge Avenue, and has been bought of the heirs of Cornelius Stone, at the price of $1000 per acre, the lot containing over five acres and a half, and costing the Corporation $5,543.75. This lot, consisting in part of low or wet Iand, is to be used as a place of temporary deposit for stone, rubbish and buildmg materials, thereby releasing a more valuable portion of land now used for the same purposes within the Cemetery. It is possible that, at some future time, the engine house with its appurtenances may be removed in the same direction, with the same economical purpose. The other purchase is that of a part of an acre of land, with a dwelling house thereon, situated nearly opposite the front gate of the Cemetery, and bought of A. McDonald, for $4000. For various reasons, it was thought desirable that the Corporation should control this estate.

The work of reclaiming low lands in eligible situations has gone steadily forward. The entire hill on which the Superintendent’s house stood, thirteen years ago, has been

3

levelled, and the earth used to fill up the meadow about Halcyon Lake, and also to restore the necessary grade where made lands had settled, as in some parts of the Lawn, and of the meadow adjoining Thistle Path. Considerable sums have been expended in completing the improvements in St. Paul’s lot, Central Avenue, and the bank north of the Chapel. As the expense of these necessary improvements within the Cemetery has.been shared by the Horticultural Society, an exact account of the sums expended for such purposes, has been rendered to them, and, with a view to prevent any future misapprehension, a new indenture of two parts has been signed and executed by the authorized agents of the two parties.

A decided progress has been made this winter in removing the superfluous trees and branches from the Cemetery. About one hundred and seventy-five cords of wood have already been piled for sale, and much more will be removed during the winter. A marked improvement is already obvious in the variety of the landscape, the extent of the prospect, and the admission of sunlight to the ground. The work of this removal is slow and laborious, owing to the necessity of taking down the trees piecemeal, to avoid danger to neighboring monuments and works of art.

A new boiler of increased size has been procured for the. steam engine, and, for its accommodation, an addition has been made to the engine-house, the whole at a cost of about eleven hundred dollars.

A lease having been taken by the Corporation, of rooms at No. 16 Pemberton Square, in Boston, for ten years, it was decided by the Trustees to place the offices of the Secretar “y and Treasurer in the same building. At this time, George

4 W. Bond, Esq., who had acceptably filled the office of Treasurer for twenty-six years, resigned that office, and the Trustees subsequently elected Austin J. Coolidge, Esq., to fill both offices of Secretary and Treasurer, a condensation of duties, which, it is hoped, will prove economical to the Corporation, and convenient to the proprietors.

By the Treasurer’s Report, it appears that the Permanent Fund, for the future support and preservation of the Cemetery, has increased to $89,818.13. The Repair Fund is now $49,836.24; and the estimated balance in cash and invested disposable property is $48,626.65, exclusive of the real estate owned by the Corporation outside of the Cemetery.

For the Trustees,

JACOB BIGELOW, President.

5 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT To the Trustees of Mount Auburn Cemetery, GENTLEMEN ,—

In accordance with the requirements of the Trustees, I herewith transmit the Annual Report of the Superintendent, for the year ending December 31st, 1868, as per account of his department.

IMPROVEMENTS. Number of New Lots graded and bounded with Granite Posts, 61 Number of Old Lots improved by being newly graded and sodded, 195 Number of Old Lots bounded with Granite Posts, 12 Number of Lots enclosed with Granite, 81 Number of Iron Fences erected, 4 Number of Tombs built, 2 Number of Monuments erected, 38 Number of Linear feet of Gutters paved 744

INTERMENT RECORD. Total number of Interments as per last Report, 14,821 Number of Original Interments for year ending December 31, 1868, 446 Number of Removals from other Cemeteries, 105 Total number of Interments for the year, 551 Total number of Interments in Cemetery to date 15,372 Of the above, there were Deposits in Receiving Tomb. 46 Tnterments in Public Lots, 21

THE REMOVALS IN AND FROM THE CEMETERY WERE AS FOLLOWS: To the Receiving Tomb 1 To the Receiving Tomb Lot 0 To the Public Lots 7 To the Private Lots 75 From Cemetery 83 Total number of Removals 20 Total number of Removals 103

Respectfully submitted, DANIEL L. WINSOR, Superintendent of Mount Auburn Cemetery. Mount Auburn, December 31, 1868