People and Happenings
Mount Auburn ’ s mission : “ To commemorate the dead in a landscape of exceptional beauty and tranquility , providing comfort and inspiration to the bereaved and the public as a whole ; to protect and improve its historic landscape , monuments , architecture , horticulture , and natural resources , and ; to provide comprehensive cemetery services of the highest standard to persons of all faiths .”
The current down economy demands more than ever Mount Auburn ’ s spirit of innovation to maintain our commitment to preservation and service excellence . Our mission is very much alive today as it has been for 178 years .
Today , Mount Auburn is a multidimensional cultural resource comprised of a world class arboretum , wild life sanctuary , outdoor sculpture and history museum , valuable historical archive , and educational programs , all set in a spectacular and always-inviting venue . In all that we do , both publicly and privately , Preservation and Client Services intersect , and our challenge is to maintain , in a fiscally responsible manner , the standard of excellence and innovation that our families , supporters , and visitors have all come to expect .
Mount Auburn ’ s Cemetery Services is focused on providing comprehensive client service of the highest standard to persons of all faiths in a caring and dignified manner . Our Preservation team is focused on protecting the character of the landscape , monuments and buildings – each with different preservation needs that are sometimes at odds . Cemetery Services and Preservation actively collaborate to achieve our shared objective of preserving the memory of each of our families ’ loved ones , while conserving the material fabric of our art and architecture as well as the beloved horticultural landscape .
Maintaining Mount Auburn and protecting its extraordinary sense of place requires an investment of substantial resources and time which by necessity , is reflected in the pricing of the burial and memorialization options . If not for the assured longevity of Mount Auburn ’ s magnificent presence , these cemetery pricing levels could not be achieved . Yet , without the premium pricing level , its beauty could not be sustained with such assurance . In this integration of service and preservation , Mount Auburn ’ s viability is sustained .
People and Happenings
A dual challenge :
Preserving a national treasure and serving our public ’ s needs
by William G . Barry , Jr ., Vice President of Preservation & Facilities , and Sean J . O ’ Regan , Vice President of Cemetery Services
The families we serve understand the significance and value of their investment in Mount Auburn after hearing stories and viewing the results of the recent restoration of the 1832 Hannah Adams monument , the first monument at Mount Auburn , or witnessing the delicate balance between nature and monumentation . Our clients choose Mount Auburn to be remembered and to be part of a vibrant historical place that will remain relevant for the foreseeable future .
Birch Gardens , the Cemetery ’ s newest memorial landscape ( 2008 ) is an innovative design , developed by the Cemetery Services team and Mount Auburn ’ s Trustees , that meets today ’ s needs both for traditional casket burial space and the increasing demand for cremation burial and memorialization
Left photo : Bill Barry ( right ) and preservation specialists inspect the Administration Building . Below : Director of Cemetery Services Administration Jim Holman with Vice President Sean O ’ Regan at Birch Gardens .
( 80 % of Birch Gardens ’ space is designated for cremation burial ). The Preservation team was involved from day one to develop a preventive maintenance program as a tool to preserve the investment . As a result , several families have purchased space at Birch Gardens and a number of cemeteries are watching Birch Gardens with an eye towards duplicating this innovation in their master plans for future cemetery development .
Mount Auburn is a rewarding and important community resource with a daily challenge to balance complex historic and current priorities with today ’ s public needs and diverse interests . At the heart of it all is our commitment to collaboration , creativity , professional planning , prudent spending and high standards , all required to sustain Mount Auburn .
PHOTO By tom johnson
Fall 2009 | 9