The Buzz Buzz on the Bay
Rhody Gem
Voices of the Bay
Calendar
Common Burying Ground in Newport is treated to conservation work
History Engraved A preservation commission continues two months of cemetery programming around the East Bay and beyond “Cemeteries are among Rhode Island’s most unique and often overlooked cultural resources,” says Sarah Zurier, the principal historic preservation specialist at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC). “Nearly 3,000 sites have been identified in our small state,” she continues, “including Indigenous Peoples’ burial places, family plots on rural farmsteads, church graveyards, picturesque garden cemeteries, cemeteries established by religious communities, veterans’ resting places, and more.” This month, those interested in learning more about preserving these crucial markers of culture can get involved in the work firsthand through Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation Weeks, an ongoing series of outdoor programming provided through a collaboration between RIHPHC and the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries (RIACHC). Photo courtesy of Friends of Newport’s Historic Cemeteries The Bay • May 2022 9
