Nahant eyes cemetery expansion

NAHANT – Greenlawn Cemetery is running out of room for future burials, which is a concern for town officials.Selectman Robert Frary said the selectmen are custodians of the historic Greenlawn Cemetery and as such want to ensure it continues to serve the needs of the community for generations to come.The cemetery sits on a gently sloping hill with benches overlooking the ocean. It is the final resting place for many town leaders and some of the graves date back to 1853 when Nahant was incorporated as a town. When the town petitioned for separation from Lynn, the residents decided they needed to purchase land for a burial site and bought two acres of land for $1,200 for the cemetery. Over the past decade the aging cemetery has received a much-needed face lift. The grounds were surveyed to identify boundaries and grave lots. The wrought iron gates, complete with brass medallions, were restored and a replica of the original rear vault door was installed. The archway and stonewall along Nahant Road were restored and the back fence was replicated using the original patterns.Inside the cemetery is Ellingwood Chapel, a Gothic building that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Architect Ralph Adams Cram designed the chapel, which was built in 1818-’19 with stone quarried from the cliffs behind what is now the Spindrift and police station.Several years ago the town developed a plan to expand the cemetery across the street behind the Spindrift and police station. Some town officials believe now is the time to proceed with the plan.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said the town has applied for funds for a $3.5 million project through the state.Massachusetts stands to receive billions in overall stimulus funds under President Barack Obama’s $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As much as $2 billion will be available for spending within the next year on “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects within the state.Cullinan said he applied for funding for the cemetery expansion project through the state. He said the project is shovel ready and could be completed within the two-year window required. Cullinan said if the town does not receive stimulus money for the expansion it would be necessary to explore other funding options including borrowing. Cullinan said state law only allows municipalities to borrow money for up to five years to fund cemetery expansion.”We might want to look at asking Town Meeting to allow us to file for special legislation to allow us to borrow money for a longer period of time,” he said. “It may require special legislation to extend it 40 years.”Frary said given the current economic climate, he believes it might be prudent to start work on the project as soon as possible.”It needs to be done before we run out of room,” he said. “Now is the prime time to do work like that because so many people are hurting for work and looking for work.”Cullinan said town officials are looking at other ways to help minimize costs including memorial donations for terrace walls and a reflection room. Anyone interested in making memorial donations toward the project should contact Cullinan at 781-581-9927.