North Adams Seeks Community Help in Cemetery Restoration

Many of the aged monuments at Hillside Cemetery have tipped or fallen. A local man is spearheading a restoration effort.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A local man is hoping to restore the historic Hillside Cemetery into a place of pride for the community.

But he can't do it alone.

Roger Eurbin has been working with the city of North Adams, the Historical Commission and other groups to research and develop restoration plans for the cemetery. On Tuesday, he and Mayor Richard Alcombright said they would be soliciting donations in hopes of raising $25,000 for the first phase of a years' long effort.

"If it's done at all I want it to be done right, if it's done right, it won't have to be done again for a long time," said Eurbin. "It's worth preserving."

Hillside is the resting place for many of the city's most significant individuals, including educator Sarah T. Haskins, the city's first Postmaster Nathan Putnam, John E. Atwood, a Civil War soldier who was Gettysburg for President Lincoln's address, industrialists like Blackinton, Johnson and Tinker, and archaeologist John Henry Haynes.

The 1798 cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places but the years haven't been kind to Hillside.

Deferred maintenance, a shifting and changing landscape has caused many stones to lean or topple over. Some are broken, or gone, while others made of softer stone are barely legible. There are few if any family members left to care for the graves.

Eurbin, an Adams native, was struck by the poor condition of the cemetery when he returned to the Berkshires after retiring. He's spent the better part of the last year researching and meticulously recording the names, placement and condition of the markers, creating a grid and spreadsheet to work off.

"The information in the cemetery department was on 3 by 5 index cards," he said, estimating it took him about four months to digitize the information, and he's still not done.

But the harder work will be raising funds and beginning restoration efforts.

"He's taken a real interest in this so it doesn't get worse," said Alcombright. "We feel a significant number of people will be willing to get involved in the process."

Some already have. Last spring, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students volunteered during the annual Community Day of Service to help clear brush generally clean up. Eurbin said he expects that aid again this year.

Gravestones go every which way on the north side of the cemetery. Roger Eurbin is working on restoring the cemetery.

Alcombright said $10,000 transferred from the Tinker Trust Fund, set up by industrialist's banker son to ensure the maintenance of the cemetery, will be used as seed money for any grants that can be found.

The entire project is estimated at $100,000, which Eurbin thinks can be done with careful planning. The mayor said use of city equipment and workers will also keep down costs.

Cemetery restoration can be expensive. Williamstown has set aside tens of thousands in Community Preservation Act funds toward the restoration of the even older, and smaller, Southlawn Cemetery.

"He knows the limits of our resources, I know his passion to get this done," said Alcombright, on how well they've been working together toward the same goal.

Eurbin said the initial work will begin on what's been called Soldiers Hill, or Veterans Circle, and kick off around Memorial Day. He's speaking with veterans organizations to seek support for that initiative.

While there are some 250 Civil War veterans, and veterans from all of the nation's conflicts, buried there, he said he doesn't want to give the impression that this about veterans. It's about the entire cemetery and everyone buried there.

In fact, the "real effort" he said will be on the north side of the cemetery, "it's more visible, we'd like the visibility improved."

Alcombright agreed, saying "people want to know where their money is going ... We need to make visible improvements there over the next several years."

Both envisioned a cemetery that would be attractive for residents and tourists alike. Eurbin thought of a brochure and map to indicate where the more prominent personages are buried or the more striking monuments are located.

But most importantly, he said, the cemetery's occupants should have "a clean decent place to rest their bones."

Donations in any amount are appreciated and should be made by check to "City of North Adams-Hillside Fund," c/o Mayor's Office, 10 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.

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