New sign for historic cemetery

The society recent installed a sign marking where Old Beach Meadows Cemetery is located.

“Lots of people didn’t know the cemetery existed, let alone where it was,” said society President, Cathy de Rome.

The old cemetery fell into disuse after a new one was built in 1935. Over the years neglect had made gravestones illegible and overgrown, while high tides washed some of the graves and markers out to sea.

It was 1988 when a group of people decided to get together and do something about it.

“It was a meeting of members of the community who were interested in restoring the old cemetery,” said de Rome.

The Beach Meadows Historical Research Society was formed, headed by Audrey Wilkinson, Margaret Collicutt and Mabel Doucet. Their goal was at first to restore the grounds and stones back to a respectable state. As they made arrangements to restore the cemetery, they decided there should be research done on who was buried there and the history behind it.

Over the next few years, the cemetery got a face-lift. The Society cleaned and straightened gravestones, did interviews with past and present residents, and cleaned up the property around the stones.

“They interviewed seniors from the community of Beach Meadows that lived there all their lives,” said Rose Decker, Secretary and Treasurer for the Society.

The Society also put in a special plaque.

“The middle section of the cemetery is bare, because a lot of people couldn’t afford gravestones. What the group did was have a plaque made in memory of those who are buried in unmarked graves,” said de Rome.

The Society published a book in 2001 with photographs, a history of the area and who is buried in the cemetery. Decker says the book sold well, and continues to sell even today.

“I think I’ve sold that book to every Fralic in the world,” said Decker.

Now they have finished their last major project. A sign to mark the cemetery from the road is up, so people can see the product of their work.

Designed by George de Rome, the sign sits slightly back from the road across from Shore View Drive.

The society now plans to finish fixing up a few remaining stones.

If interested in purchasing an Old Beach Meadows Cemetery Book or making a donation, contact Rose Decker at 354-5597.