Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020 The Old Burial Ground at Saugus Center gets a new look A By Janice K. Jarosz t a MEG Foundation Board meeting several months ago it was voted to visit the burial ground at Saugus Center to determine what contributions the board could make to improve the conditions of the property and preserve the markings. Town Manager Scott Crabtree granted approval along with John Falasca, head of the Cemetery Department. SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Falasca provided leaf bags and offered to pick them up for proper disposal. MEG Foundation Board Member Charlotte Line, also a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) member, recently established a DAR Chapter in Saugus. The new Chapter joined with the MEG to support this project. On Sunday, October 4, http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only volunteers from both organizations met and began the work of reviewing headstones, raking, weeding and removing trash. Gail (Witten) Cassarino, a Saugus resident along with Marsha Pease – DAR members from the Brigadier General James Brickett-Old Newbury Chapter – brought with them their expertise in gently cleaning the old headstones with the recommended supplies. MEG Board Member Paula Walsh also volunteered on this project. Cassarino commented that October 11, 1890, was the founding of the DAR and at this time each year members are encouraged to engage in meaningful service to their communities. MEG board members witnessed firsthand the amazing restoration of many of the long forgotten headstones. Their efforts were truly amazing. Our plans are to begin the work of researching those long forgotten Saugonians – the 22 Revolutionary War Veterans, William Taylor, who donated the property, Cornelius Conway Felton, President of Harvard University, the Mansfield and Boardman families, ParDAR-MEG CLEANUP TEAM: A small group of volunteers gathered last Sunday (Oct. 4) in the Old Burial Ground at Saugus Center. Left to right: Justine Dolan, Charlotte Line, Marsha Pease, Gail Cassarino, Judith Askley, John Line, Skylar Ross, Linda Ross, Janice Jarosz and Kathy Giannetta. son Roby and so many others who were patriots and contributed so much to our town. There are 22 Revolutionary War veterans from Saugus buried here. We will continue to improve the appearance of the cemetery and welcome those interested to join us. Last Sunday was the first on-site meeting to access the situation and determine what action we should take. We decided to start a program to clean up the stones and take an inventory of all of them. We will be scheduling another meeting soon. HONORING SAUGUS ANCESTORS: These grave markers at the Old Burial Ground in Saugus Center haven’t looked this good in years. Members of the MEG Foundation Board and the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) gathered at the cemetery last Sunday (Oct. 4) to clean up the burial ground, including the headstones. (Courtesy photos to the Saugus Advocate) PART OF THE WORK PARTY: Gail Cassarino and Marsha Pease help to spruce up the Old Burial Ground at Saugus Center.
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