JANUARY 2021.VOL. 21, NO. 01. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
WEST END PLACES FEATURE
Western Cemetery in Need of Love & Attention One could consider the Western Cemetery the poor relation of the public cemeteries in Portland By Harlan Baker One recent afternoon walking through the Western Cemetery, I spotted a man snapping pictures of the gravestones. He was visibly upset at the condition of the many broken and upended headstones. He continued photographing a family plot commenting on the intricate designs on the stone, wishing something could be done to preserve the stones. One could consider the Western Cemetery the poor relative of the public cemeteries in Portland. The Eastern Cemetery is cared for by Sprits Alive, a nonprofit, which does restoration work and sponsors a “Walk Among the Shadows” tour every October drawing hundreds of people. The Evergreen Cemetery is well maintained and plays host to the annual Memorial Day ceremonies in the Deering neighborhood. But while the Western Cemetery is periodically maintained by City staff, many of the aging gravestones are in need of repair.
From Portland’s Primary Cemetery to Official Dog Park The City of Portland established the cemetery in 1829. It was expanded to its current size of 12 acres in 1841. It was Portland’s primary cemetery until the Evergreen Cemetery was established in 1852. It ceased being an active cemetery in 1910. Then over time it fell into a state of neglect. It was reported that between July 1988 to August 1989 a total of 1,942 tombs were desecrated.
PORTLAND WINTER STORM SERVICES
All the Info You Need to Survive City Life During Winter Heading into the winter storm season, the City of Portland would like to update residents on winter storm service information and regulations. SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL
Potentially thousands of gravestones are in disrepair and the historic Portland cemetery is in need of attention. -Photos by Harlan Baker ters between strangers.” The city council made it official policy for dogs to run free 2004 to care for and maintain the cemethrough the cemetery in 1993. tery’s twelve acres. In a 2012 video made While dog walkers loved the use of through public access television, Former the space, many people felt it was an insult mayor Ann Pringle and president of the to the memory of those buried there. It Stewards, Linda Graffam, unveiled a plaque was particularly offensive to the Ancient on a new entrance to the cemetery in recOrder of Hibernians, where a section of ognition of its historic significance. In the the cemetery known as “The Catholic video Graffam states: Ground” contains the graves of many Irish e have repaired and refugees who fled the potato famine in have all new granite curb the 1840s. stones, we have removed trees, cleaned In a blog post dated June 23rd, 2000, up paths, new pathways have gone Paul O’Neill, president of the Division 1 through are really nice because they had Ancient Order of Hibernians, wrote that, been totally decimated over the years. “The cemetery has not been simply ne We’d love to have enough money glected, it is being deliberately, actively, to restore some graves.You see so many systematically, and ruthlessly desecrated stones that have been broken over the with the city’s blessing.” years. Some have been actually been After much indecision, the city counstolen and taken from the cemetery. cil voted 9-0 to ban dogs from the cemeThere are still many that are lying on the tery in 2001. ground.”
“W
Restoration of the Western
The cemetery became an unofficial Cemetery Begins … Then dog park in the 1980s. According to the Ends January 1st Religious News service blog, “Before the dogs arrived, the neglectRestoration projects were begun by ed 12-acre plot was notorious for drug the Stewards of the Western Cemetery, deals, vandalism, and homosexual encoun- a nonprofit organization incorporated in
The new fence that was erected on the Vaughn Street side of the cemetery cost $30,000. The entire coast was raised through private donations by the organization.
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The City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires residential owners to clear snow and ice abutting their property 18 hours -Photo by Tony Zeli after the end of a storm or when City crews finish their snow removal operations, whichever is later. Business owners must clear sidewalks by 12 hours following the storm. The City may fine residential owners $75 for the first offense, $125 for the second offense in the same winter season, and $250 for any subsequent offense in the same winter season. The fines are greater for business owners. Additionally, should the City have to remove the snow and ice or arrange for its removal, they will charge the property owner for the cost of removal plus 10% for administration.
SNOW REMOVAL HELP Elderly and disabled residents who need help with removing snow from sidewalks should contact the City’s Elder Services Department at 207-541-6620. They are also looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor this winter.
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20th Anniversary
Page 2 WEN celebrates 20 years of community news publication
Page 4 Children’s Museum begins installing exhibits
Page 7 City clears invasive trees along Western Prom
Page 11 Nancy Dorrans reminds us that winter can be fun!