Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn The Art of Memory: Monuments Through Time | Page 17

People and Happenings
New Greenhouse Opens
In April, Mount Auburn Cemete ry ce le brate d
the construction of its new Greenhouse with a brunch for
the donors whose support was critical to the success of the
project, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours
for the general public. The 9,500-square-foot facility utilizes
cutting-edge technology to create an efficient climate-
controlled environment with its open-roof venting, side-wall
and ceiling curtains, high-efficiency boilers, and radiant floor
heating. Below ground a 35,000 gallon cistern collects roof
rainwater to irrigate greenhouse plants.
The new facility will enable the horticultural staff to
expand its existing environmentally sensitive practices, and
will also enhance our capacity to propagate historically
appropriate plant varieties and other hard-to-find trees,
shrubs and groundcovers.
The Greenhouse comprises the first phase of a larger
Horticulture Center, a complex designed by award-winning
architect William Rawn and Associates to achieve LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum
certification. The Greenhouse and future Center represent
Mount Auburn’s commitment to using and promoting
environmentally sensitive practices and to continuing to
add diversity and interest to the horticultural collections
and historically significant landscape.
C ongratulations D ave !
President & CEO of Mount
Auburn, Dave Barnett, was
recently awarded the Honorary
Life Member Award by the
American Public Gardens
Association. APGA’s most
prestigious award is conferred
“upon an individual who has
Dave Barnett, with his wife Eileen,
displayed an uncommon
receiving the APGA Honorary Life
Member Award.
devotion to the field of public
horticulture… and has held
leadership positions that further the missions of public gardens.”
The award “honors an individual who has for many years sup-
ported the Association through active committee work, energetic
membership, and leadership positions, and whose efforts have
led to the advancement of the Association.”
Having served as the chair of several APGA committees over
the years and as President of the Association from 2005 to 2007,
Dave was highly deserving of this award. In the letters of support
for his nomination, colleagues described Dave as “a kind,
thoughtful and effective leader and manager” and as one who
“exudes enthusiasm, humor, passion and compassion in all that
he does.” We are very proud of our Dave!
G rants A warded
Since December 2012, The Friends of Mount Auburn
received two additional grants to support the greenhouse
initiative: The Michael and Helen Schaffer Foundation gave
$15,000 towards the project and the Edwin S. Webster Foun-
dation $20,000. The Anthony J. & Mildred D. Ruggiero
Memorial Trust’s annual gift of $60,000 supports a wide variety
of FOMAC programs and a special projects grant of $56,148
from the Ruggiero Trust was received to support a year-long
collaboration with Central Square’s Underground Railway
Theater which includes a teacher’s institute and site-specific
performance of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” Grants of $750
from the Cambridge Arts Council supported the new African
American Heritage Trail and $500 from the Watertown Cultural
Council. The development of a series of activities for families
and children downloadable from Mount Auburn’s website are
supported by a $500 grant from the Eastern Bank Charitable
Foundation and a $750 grant from the Watertown Community
Foundation. Most recently, a matching grant from the Mas-
sachusetts Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission of $5,000
was awarded to support the preservation of five Civil War
monuments and landscape enhancements to a sixth. This grant
was matched by a $2,500 grant from the Ruth & Henry
Walter Fund and the Friends is currently seeking $2,500 in
additional funds to meet the match.
Fall 2013 | 15