NORTH READING — After more than a year of planning and permission-seeking, the North Reading Historical & Antiquarian Society and the town’s Historical Commission have launched the start of new project to clean historic grave markers in North Reading.
Approved by the town, this initiative will employ best practices in use by other Massachusetts towns and grave cleaning experts nationwide.
“We are looking forward to bringing the community together to undertake this important work,” said Society President Matthew Page and Commission Chair Francine Coughlin, in a joint statement. “Cleaning our town’s historic grave markers will help us to honor the people who helped build North Reading and to protect their memorials for generations to come. Our goal is to train and motivate a group of skilled and dedicated local grave cleaning volunteers. Many hands make light work!”
The first training/cleaning event will take place on Sunday, October 26 from 1-4 p.m. at the Park Street Cemetery. Volunteer slots for this and future grave cleaning events will be limited; priority will be given to members of the Historical Society and Historical Commission, North Reading Minit & Militia members, veterans, event sponsors, NRHS/NRMS students, and town residents (in that order).
All volunteers must sign up in advance via the Society’s website (nreadinghistory.org). After registering, volunteers will receive an email from the Society confirming their participation (or place on the wait list). Volunteers can use the same link to express interest in future grave cleaning events planned for spring/summer 2026.
Donations toward the cost of specialized grave cleaning supplies can be made also via the Historical Society’s website (nreadinghistory.org). The Society and Commission are also looking for local businesses interested in sponsoring this and future grave cleaning events. For more information, contact: president@nreadinghistory.org
Important disclaimer: If any proven relative of the interred or owner of a grave in a gravesite in a town-owned cemetery does not want stones of the interred cleaned, repaired, restored, or preserved as part of this effort, they should notify the Department of Public Works, Attention: Cemetery Division c/o North Reading Town Hall, 235 North St., North Reading, MA 01864.