Saugus seeks unused grave plots to reclaim

SAUGUS – The Cemetery Commission is looking for a volunteer to do a little digging – not in Riverside Cemetery for a body, but online for information.Commissioner Dennis Gould said there are potentially hundreds of unused gravesites in Riverside that, if reclaimed, could extend the life of the cemetery two to three years.Years ago, residents were allowed to buy pre-purchase gravesites. Gould said some families would buy 10 plots and, over the years, have only used one or two.”That leaves eight open,” he said. “This goes back hundreds of years.”Gould said the town can try to reclaim the unused plots but there is a time-consuming procedure that needs to be followed.To reclaim the plot, the town has to track down the family, which in some cases could involve tracing several generations, and reach out to a living descendent. If the descendents don’t plan to use the plots, they can turn them back to the town.If descendents can’t be found, Gould said he can place a newspaper ad announcing that the town plans to reclaim the plot. If no one comes forward after a certain amount of time, the town can lay claim to the plots.Reclaiming the space began taking on a bit of urgency nearly a year ago when commissioners announced the town’s only cemetery only had another two- to three-year life expectancy.In December, Gould told Selectmen there were only 283 double lots left in the 17-acre cemetery. At the time, he said he expected it would run out of space in three years.But if they are successful in putting some of the plots back into play, Gould said it could extend the life of the cemetery a total of five to seven years.”It’s huge. If we’re successful it could be big doings,” he said.Gould said they also planned to approach living plot owners to see if they intend to still use the sites. The town can’t buy the plots back, he said, but it could put sellers together with buyers, such as Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, or even individuals looking for a local gravesite.Gould said he is looking for a volunteer to track down grave owners using genealogy, research or administrative skills. Without those skills, he said said anyone with a computer who can find their way around the Internet could work.”I was thinking a high school senior that needed to get their (volunteer) time in before graduation or a retiree with a computer,” he said.Volunteers could work at the Cemetery Office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or on their own time at home.Gould said he already has one volunteer, but he’d like at least one more. Anyone interested can contact him at 781-233-3942 or on his cell phone, 617-257-4847.