Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Mount Auburn as a Mosaic of American Culture

A publication of the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-547-7105 www.mountauburn.org President’s Corner Trustees of the Friends of Mount Auburn Since our founding in 1831, Mount Auburn has been a place of beauty and tranquility designed to accommodate the burial of the deceased while also provid- ing comfort and inspiration to those left behind. During our 179-year history the Cemetery has become the final resting place of more than 97,000 people. The stories behind those interred here are fasci- nating and wide-ranging, as so beautifully highlighted in this issue’s feature article. Dave Barnett Mount Auburn Cemetery is indeed “A Mosaic of American Culture.” And Mount Auburn is so much more. It is a National Historic Landmark, an incredible landscape of natural features and built structures, a collection of art and architecture, an arboretum of more than 5,000 trees, a wildlife sanctuary, and above all else it is still very much an active cemetery. We continue to develop new interment space that respects and preserves the character of the historic landscape. Every day we provide comprehensive cemetery services to fami- lies at a time of need, and have now begun to host wedding ceremonies in response to increasing demand (p. 14). At the same time, preservation of the landscape, monuments, and other structures remains central to our mission (p.11). Mount Auburn’s role as a wildlife sanctuary is colorfully depicted in the photo essay by our good friends George McLean and John Harrison (pp. 12-13), and we continue to improve the wildlife habitat value of the landscape with projects such as the Consecration Dell habitat restoration enabled by funding from the Anthony J. and Mildred D. Ruggiero Memorial Trust (p. 15). Enhancing the experience of our visitors and providing the information they desire is also a priority, as indicated by Bree Harvey’s article (p.19). The biggest and most exciting project now underway at Mount Auburn is the new Greenhouse and Horticulture Center (p. 10). Architectural design and construction documents are nearing completion, and if fundraising efforts are successful we hope to break ground in 2011. This facility will be state-of-the-art in environmental efficiency and will greatly enhance our Horticulture staff’s ability to grow a wide variety of plants for Mount Auburn’s landscape. It will also provide much-improved public spaces for meeting rooms and for serving our cemetery clients purchasing floral tributes. So while we continue to preserve this National Historic Landmark and the “stories behind the stones,” we also plan for the future and look for new and improved ways to provide the highest level of service to our clients and visitors. I hope you enjoy this issue of Sweet Auburn. Honorary Trustee of the Friends David P. Barnett, President Editorial Committee Priscilla P. Morris, Editor Senior Vice President of Development Lauren Marsh, Managing Editor Development Associate & Communications Coordinator Jennifer J. Johnston, Photo Editor Visual Services Coordinator & Staff Photographer Stephen H. Anable Feature Writer David P. Barnett, Contributing Editor President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery William G. Barry, Jr. Vice President of Preservation & Facilities Dennis Collins Horticultural Curator Candace Currie Director of Planning & Sustainability Bree D. Harvey Director of Education & Visitor Services Tom Johnson Family Services Coordinator Sean J. O’Regan Vice President of Cemetery Services Brian A. Sullivan Archivist Natalie Wampler Preservation & Facilities Planner Margaret L. Winslow Curator of Historical Collections Designer Elizabeth Bonadies Printer P+R Publications Cover photo: Tile from the chancel floor of Bigelow Chapel, completed by architects Allen & Collens during renovations in 1923-24; Jennifer Johnston. Mary Lee Aldrich, Secretary, Cambridge, MA Clemmie L. Cash, Chair, Wellesley, MA Thomas C. Cooper, Watertown, MA Caroline Loughlin, Treasurer, Weston, MA Sean McDonnell, Cambridge Caroline Mortimer, Cambridge Ann M. Roosevelt, Cambridge Susan W. Paine, Cambridge 2 | The Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery was established in 1986 to assist in the conservation of the Cemetery’s natural beauty and to promote the appreciation of its cultural, historic and natural resources. Organized in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable trust, the Friends seeks financial support from its members, other individuals, foundations, corporations and public agencies. It receives gifts for educational and inter- pretive programs and materials for the public, specific cultural projects, and operating support for horticultural rejuvenation and the preservation of the historic monuments, structures, Sweet Auburn and archival artifacts and records. The Friends has over 1,300 active members. pg. 1 pg. 12 pg. 14 President’s Corner Sweet Auburn

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