Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn President Bill Clendaniel Retires | Page 24

People and Happenings
A Warm Welcome and Celebration
Visitors Center Opens
An enthused group of people came to Mount Auburn on the
rainy, cool weekend of May 3-4 for the official opening of the
Visitors Center in Story Chapel. Two full days of activities in-
cluded tours highlighting Mount Auburn’s history and heritage
trees, nature sketching workshops for the whole family and a
Bigelow Chapel Open House. Many people were paying their
first visit to the Cemetery and were obviously pleased with the
new center and with the opportunity to tour the often-closed
Bigelow Chapel and see its dazzlingly restored north chancel
window.
Earlier, on March 6, more than 90 people attended the preview
opening of the Center. Attendees included special guests from
other historic cemeteries, the historical societies of both Cam-
bridge and Watertown, art centers, people from the media, and
Mount Auburn Trustees and Friends. After guests, hors d’oeuvres, and wine all circu-
lated, Bill Clendaniel spoke of the years of toil
and creativity by former Vice President Janet
Heywood and current Director of Education
& Visitor Services Bree Harvey that went into
bringing the Center into existence.
L to r: Trustees Kim Gluck, of Newton;
Clemmie Cash, of Wellesley; and Bill
Clendaniel
Cemetery Trustee Oliver Scholle, of Chestnut Hill, MA
22 | Sweet Auburn
Cemetery and Friends Trustee
Widgie Aldridge, of Cambridge