Cemeteries are a link to our past, a memorial to those who shaped our towns. On Thursday, April 28th at 7:30 PM, Paul LeBeau presents Mapping Holliston's Old Cemeteries at Holliston Historical Society at 547 Washington Street. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served following the program.
LeBeau's interest in genealogy and an awareness of the frustration felt by his dad on searching for gravestones of ancestors in various New Hampshire cemeteries led LeBeau to embark on a project that would make things easier for folks searching for specific gravestones in Holliston. He mapped the gravestones in four of Holliston's cemeteries that date to the early 1700s (South Cemetery near Weston Pond, West Cemetery on Gorwin Drive, East Cemetery on Washington Street, and Central Burying Ground next to Town Hall). In creating these maps and lists, LeBeau discovered fascinating biographical sketches about some of the early residents of Holliston. "The names as well as the inscriptions-some of them very lengthy-are quite interesting," stated LeBeau.
The mapping and inventory lists of three of the cemeteries have been completed and copies of the reports will be presented to the Holliston Historical Society, Holliston Town Library and Holliston Town Clerk. Discussion is ongoing regarding making them available through the respective websites of these organizations. Many thanks to Paul LeBeau for the numerous hours he has devoted to this project, which will benefit present and future generations.