Cemetery Gravestone Cleaning Volunteer Project
2024 SCHEDULE UPDATE – TWO CEMETERY GRAVESTONE CLEANING EVENTS ARE PLANNED NOW. MORE WILL BE PLANNED LATER. JOIN US ON Oct. 5, 12 Nov. 9, 16 and 23rd. AT 9 A.M. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT ALICE DEMARTINO AT DEMARTINO826@YAHOO.COM.
The Middlebury Historical Society has periodic gatherings, depending on weather, at the Middlebury Cemetery, to clean the gravestones of the “forefathers and foremothers of the hamlet.”
The two Middlebury cemeteries, “Middlebury Cemetery” and “Lake Elise Cemetery,” are privately owned and maintained by the Middlebury Cemetery Association, Inc. The historical society works in conjunction with the association, which shares funding for the cleaning supplies.
If you are interested in taking part in this special project, please contact Bob Rafford by emailing him at president@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org or Alice J. Demartino at secretary@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org.
Examples of our handiwork – stones shown before and after cleaning:
Our Veteran Gravestone Marker Project
The Veteran Gravestone Marker project is generously supported by donations from ION Bank, the Middlebury Cemetery Association, the Middlebury Lions Club, Garrett J. Moore, First Selectman Ed St. John, Brian and Susan Henebry, Donald J. Marquis, and Richarda R. Chovau.
In Conjunction with the Middlebury Cemetery Association, the Middlebury Historical Society has joined forces with the prodigious work by Dr. Ray Sullivan of Middlebury in identifying, collecting, locating and, most important, honoring the graves of Middlebury military veterans.
Veteran gravestone markers, manufactured of durable thermoplastic, have been added to every veteran’s gravestone. Historical Society President Bob Rafford stands next to the stone which honors the resting place of Capt. Augustus Peck (1760-1812), who served five years in the Revolutionary War and settled in Middlebury on a farm off Shadduck Road.
Dr. Ray Sullivan placing flags and veteran markers at veteran graves in Middlebury Cemetery, November, 2023. Dr. Sullivan has for years collected names and locations of veterans’ graves and honored them.
Alice DeMartino, coordinator of the Veteran Grave Marker Project, assists Tom Cunningham in placing veteran grave markers in Middlebury Cemetery.
