The very early settlers of Milford were buried on their farms or in their yards. Most burials were private affairs and did not involve church officials until the 1790s. The first people to be buried in a graveyard are buried in the Old Town Cemetery in Mendon because Milford was originally part of Mendon. Many of those stones have no information on them, only the elite would have been honored with sculptured memorials. 

If you’re wondering where the very first cemetery was located in present-day Milford, you need look no further than Memorial Hall because right beneath that building is where the original cemetery was located. As a member of the Historical Commission, working in that place every week, I have wondered about those who were initially buried beneath where the building now stands, but I must report I have experienced no hauntings. 

At a precinct meeting in March 1747, it was voted that the Deacon Nathaniel Jones of the Congregational Church would buy a half an acre of land for a burying ground on the corner of what is now Spruce and School Streets. At that point, there were already a couple of the early settlers buried there. In 1780, the town took custody of the graveyard. In 1805, a carriage house - a place to store the funeral carriage (Milford’s first hearse) - was added. In 1809, some of the more elite citizens in town were given permission to build tombs which faced School Street. The writings indicate that those were demolished, but does not say how. The records indicate that the stones were righted and the graveyard cleaned. However, sometimes folklore can provide insights. One of the members of the Historical Commission, now passed, stated that it was due to a flood that washed away caskets and tipped over tombstones. It seems strange that this information was not noted in the very detailed history written by Adin Ballou, but perhaps we should give that oral tradition some merit. It certainly makes for a good story. 

By 1837, the town had bought 12 acres of land between Central and South Bow Streets for another cemetery, but the location was not meeting the approval of the townsfolk because it was close to the railroad tracks. So, in 1847, a plan was made to move the location and the remains of those already buried there to a place that would later become the Claflin Street School. Cemetery Street (off Depot Street) was created at that time. 

Vernon Grove Cemetery came into being in 1859. It was 21 acres and the remains of those buried at the Spruce Street location were moved. Most of the slate stones that are in that cemetery are memorials of the early settlers. Also, there is the monument to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was made of Ohio granite and established on Memorial Day 1872. In Adin Ballou’s History of Milford, published in 1882, he says, about Vernon Grove, that the tombstones “exhibit to the beholder a very respectable array of mortuary taste and elegance, in accordance with the modern popular style.” 

In 1841, some people from Milford and other area towns founded the Pine Grove Cemetery (across from present day Wendy’s). A governor from Milford, William Claflin, is buried there in a vault chapel, created from Milford pink granite, located near the Cedar Street entrance. 

In 1847, a graveyard was established in the North Purchase area. It’s a place where Memorial Day exercises are still conducted. It is here that one could find an unusual flat stone bearing only the names “Gramma” and “Grampa.” There is no headstone to give us any other information about them. 

St. Mary’s Cemetery, located on Cedar Street across from what is now Plains Park, is home of the Irish Round Tower, a beautiful structure designed after the original one in Ireland. Near the base of the tower is a memorial for a number of priests, which is done in bronze set into Milford pink granite. 

If you want to see art, you need not go to an art museum far away, just come to the cemetery and walk around. I do this often. There are even some small memorials made from iron, most likely by those who worked at the Draper Corporation. There is also a section where children are interred, which always makes me a bit sad. There are so many gorgeous stones here, in a variety of styles and forms. Some were even carved by those who would be buried there, like that of Charles Carroll and his wife. This Celtic cross is ten feet high and four feet wide and weighs two tons, hand carved by Mr. Carroll. I can’t help but wonder what he was thinking about as he carved his own memorial. And the stone wall, which runs the entire front of the cemetery, was built by Patrick Ferguson. I would guess he was buried there, but I’ll be looking for that when I’m walking around. 

The newest of the burial places is Sacred Heart Cemetery, established in 1937. At the onset, it mostly served as an eternal resting place for the Italian-Americans in Milford. Its beautiful hand-hewn stone entryway arch was designed by Medway Monument Company and built by Consigli Construction; the stone cross at the top was placed there by Albert Consigli. If you follow that road in, you will come to a lovely outside chapel area, which is partially enclosed and includes the stations of the cross and a fantastic marble table with a magnificent crucifix behind it. In 1975, the Stigmatine priests requested that an area be reserved for them; it is located at the far left of the property. As with St. Mary’s Cemetery, Sacred Heart also has many beautiful carvings on the stones there, many accomplished by local craftsmen. 

So, as that spooky holiday approaches, it makes for a perfect time to take time to appreciate the lovely cemeteries we have in town. So peaceful and serene and pretty. It’s a perfect tribute to all those who came before us, who walked on the land of this town, and all who contributed to what we know as the town of Milford. 

And don’t forget to come and check out the Museum at Memorial Hall. We are now, in addition to Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4, also open on the first Sunday of the month, beginning in October (those same hours). You’ll be amazed at all you will see and experience there. And, if you have an interest in the history of our town, we are looking for associate members to come on board and help promote our wonderful heritage and museum. 

Hopedale was part of Milford, Spiritualism movement

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I’ll leave the cemeteries for a moment to mention this: Just as Milford was originally part of Mendon, Hopedale was originally part of Milford. And the little town of Hopedale took part in a pretty big way in the Spiritualism movement that swept the country beginning in 1848 when two sisters, Maggie and Kate Fox from New York, claimed to communicate with spirit through rapping noises. 

Around 1850, there started a squall of spiritual activity in Hopedale. Seances and spiritual healing events were held regularly; some claimed to have experienced spirit manifestations. Famous people connected to the occult were in town. 

For more information, visit www.milfordma.gov/293/Historical-Commission.