History of Gardner, Massachusetts/Cemeteries
Cemeteries.
The burying-ground, lying north of the common, is owned by the town; the land was bought of Seth Heywood, in 1785; some years after, an addition was made to it on the west side. In 1847, a tomb was built at the east end, for the use of the town.
In November, 1849, several of the inhabitants of South Gardner, made application to Asaph Wood, Esq., to issue a warrant to some one of the persons named in the said application, to meet at the office of Dr. H, C. Harriman, to organize into a company, to be called the South Gardner Green Bower Cemetery Company.
The persons met agreeably to notice, and voted to organize, according to the law made and provided for in such cases, into a company with the above name; and made choice of S. W. A. Stevens, for Clerk, and H. C. Harriman, Moderator.
The officers of the company are, five Directors, or Trustees, one of whom shall be President, a Treasurer and Clerk.
A code of by-laws was adopted for the regulation of the company; and a piece of land was purchased for the cemetery, south of the village, of Mr. John Sawin, which was fenced, and prepared, and laid out into lots for burial purposes, and has since been occupied as such. In 1858, the town voted to build a tomb in said cemetery, which has been completed.
August 7th, 1858, the Town voted to purchase some land, near the west village, for a new cemetery, and chose Elisha S. Jackson, John W. Hill, and Francis Richardson, a committee for that purpose; they bought ten acres of land: seven or eight acres of Dea. Asa Perley, and two of S. W. Bancroft. The land lies west of Crystal Lake, and is called Crystal Lake Cemetery.
Considerable labor and expense is now being bestowed upon it, and it has the appearance of being a beautiful place (when completed) for the reception of the dead.