As president of Spirits Alive, I welcome Whitney McCarthy’s recent letter calling attention to the condition and potential of Portland’s Eastern Cemetery (“Portland’s Eastern Cemetery needs some TLC,” July 31).
As Portland’s official burying ground since 1668, Eastern Cemetery is one of Maine’s most significant historic landscapes. During these anniversary years of the Revolution, it offers a unique opportunity to learn about Portland’s past through the stories of the many Revolutionary War veterans buried there.
Eastern Cemetery was the community’s burying ground, a utilitarian space created before the era of landscaped cemeteries. Most of its gravestones and monuments are more than 200 years old, requiring careful conservation. The thoughtful stewardship of a cemetery of this age is an ongoing undertaking. For 20 years, that has been part of the mission of Spirits Alive, the cemetery’s all-volunteer advocacy group. Working with preservation professionals and the city of Portland, and by training dedicated volunteers, we have so far conserved more than 750 gravestones while documenting the cemetery’s history and sharing it through tours, programs and educational events.
The work continues. Repairs to the neighboring North School include replacing the bordering fence, and Spirits Alive volunteers are beginning work on borders around historic family lots.
Spirits Alive offers Maine’s only daily historic cemetery tours, welcoming visitors from around the world to discover this extraordinary place. We invite the community to visit, volunteer or support our efforts. Together, we can ensure that Eastern Cemetery remains a place of remembrance, learning and beauty for generations to come.
Jeff Lyons
Portland