Stone Conservation Day

Saturday, June 4, 2016
8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Rain Date: Sunday, June 5

• Cover safety practices
• Assess stones and find out if they have a need for conservation
• Conduct straightening and cleaning of stones

Please wear long pants (or layers), sturdy shoes, and a hat. Your own gardening gloves are a bonus, but we have extras if you need them. 

Find how we do conservation and how you, with the knowledge gained from this hands-on conservation day, can help us in Eastern Cemetery, or help improve the stones in your own local cemetery.

Thank You, Volunteers!

Flags Are Flying in the Tidy Eastern Cemetery

In recognition of the many veterans of wars in the Eastern Cemetery, gravestones have been decorated with American flags. Okay—we even have one British flag for Blythe, the captain killed in the skirmish with Captain Burrows in 1813. Barb, Bill, Janet, Pete, Sarah, and Holly placed over 100 flags on the grounds. We hope you’ll visit on Memorial Day and remember those who died serving the United States in war. Big thanks to Barb for copying maps and creating veteran checklists for us.

We also had a wonderful first gardening day of the year with 24 intrepid volunteers! They cleaned up trash, mulched around trees and shrubs, and trimmed trees. Special thanks to Matt Mueller for the munchkins and coffee! The grounds look impeccable thanks to you all. Read about the first gardening day 10 years ago.

Subterranean Celebrity: Captain Daniel G. Hubbs

Died April 10, 1827

Daniel Gates Hubbs was born about 1796 in North Yarmouth, Maine. At age 16, he was in Philadelphia applying for a Seaman's protection certificate to ensure that he would not be “impressed” to serve on a British ship. His description was:

“...height of 5 feet, 1 quarter inches... sandy hair... light complexion, blue eyes...”

Hubbs served as a Private in Lieutenant Colonel William Ryerson's Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, but returned to Portland. In 1822, he married Harriet Hodgkins (recorded by Reverend Edward Payson). They had 2 sons: William Henry, born in 1823 (became a ship captain) and Daniel K., born in 1824. Hubbs passed away when he was only 31, and Harriett died in 1875 after an “accident.” Though she is buried in Evergreen, he rests here, surrounded by Hodgkins family members. His simple, well-preserved slate stone reads:

In memory of
CAPT. DANIEL G. HUBBS
who departed this life
Apl. 10, 1827: Aet. 31.
While here on earth, thou wast esteem’d belov’d;
Now dead, lamented, honor’d and rever’d.
His liberal hand to many did extend;
The best of husbands & the kindest friend.

Thanks so much to Robert Hall who provided all of the information as well as the photo for Captain Hubbs.

You can suggest a subterranean celebrity! Just send an email—it doesn't take much to make a nice little story. An index of all of our Subterranean Celebrities is available.