Historical Commission News

Elm Street Cemetery – “Preserving the Past”

Discussion and Tour of Elm Street Cemetery

October 30, 2011 (2PM) at Elm Street Cemetery

        In 2010 through 2011 the Braintree Historical Commission with funding assistance from the Community Preservation Committee engaged the services of Barbara Donohue (RPA) a Cultural Resource Consultant, to assess and prepare a Preservation Management Plan for the Elm Street Cemetery.  As one of the oldest cemeteries in Massachusetts, Barbara’s findings have been interesting to all with a passion of our historical roots.  The report is on the Town’s website accessible from the Historical Commission’s web page (see below).  Barbara has agreed to give an informal presentation on her findings at the cemetery and all are welcome to join members of the Braintree Historical Commission for this walking tour and discussion that will emphasize the history of the Elm Street cemetery in the Town of Braintree.

The tour and walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 2pm starting at the Elm Street entrance of the cemetery.  For further information or to read the Elm Street Preservation Management Plan - see below.  We hope you will join us for this informational and interesting discussion of Elm Street Cemetery.

Elm Street Cemetery Project

Barbara Donohue, RPA, Cultural Resource Consultant has worked for over a year with the Braintree Historical Commission with funding provided by the Community Preservation Committee to develop a preservation management plan for the long-term restoration and preservation of the Elm Street Cemetery. The Elm Street Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Commonwealth dating back to 1716.  Efforts to preserve this historical resource have been undertaken by the Historical Commission. The plan has been completed and is available to the public. however due the size of the document it is available in volumes:

             Volume I - Report - To view click here

             Volume II - Treatment Proposals - To view click here

                             - Maintenance Program - To view click here

Ms. Donohue will be visiting the Elm Street Cemetery in October of 2011 for a discussion and walk through relative to her findings.  Check here or on the Town's main web page for details of her visit.

Old Thayer Library - 2 JFK Memorial Drive

The Historical Commission assist by funding from the Community Preservation Committee has hired the firm Bargman Hendrie + Associates to develop a restoration assessment for the opening and re-use of former Library.  Bargman Hendrie + Associates have been working with Town officials over the last year. The Town received in June of 2011 a Mass Preservation Project Fund (MPPF) grant of $45,000.00 from Massachusetts Historical Commission towards the preservation and restoration of the exterior of the building to secure the building from the weather. Exterior construction work is expected to start in the fall of 2011 and continue in the spring of 2012. Mayor Sullivan continues to pursue funding opportunities for the interior restoration of the building to be used as community meeting space.

For further information on any of the items noted above - please contact the Planning and Community Development Office, Christine Stickney, Director at 781-794-8232 or via

e-mail at cstickney@braintreema.gov