Cemetery commission approves study of Absalom and Hannah Boston monument; hears Newtown contract and documentary updates

The Nantucket Cemetery Commission on an online meeting voted to authorize a commissioner to investigate costs for a proposed monument to Absalom and Hannah Boston and discussed several ongoing cemetery projects, including a contract for Newtown Cemetery work and the premiere plans for a documentary about the historic Colored Cemetery.

The commission voted to authorize Commissioner Charlie (last name not specified) to investigate pricing and design options for a monument to Absalom and Hannah Boston, with Commissioner Barbara seconding the motion. The motion passed on a roll-call vote; participants on the roll call recorded in the meeting were: Frank (Aye), Scotty (Aye), Barbara (Aye), Lee (Aye) and the Chair (Aye). Commissioners agreed the item will return with proposals on size, inscription and cost at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Absalom Boston is a figure discussed in the commission's documentary work, and commissioners said placing a monument would respond to public interest generated by the film and provide a formal focal point in the burial ground. The commission also discussed broader restoration priorities and funding options that could support the monument.

The commission received three operational updates during the meeting. Alan (Commissioner) reported that a contract for Newtown Cemetery with LMC Contracting is on the Select Board agenda; he said the bid came in lower than expected, "about $51,000" for the Newtown work. Commissioners said once the Newtown contract is fully executed they will proceed with the follow-up contract and work for the nearby New North site.

Commissioners also confirmed that the documentary about the historic Colored Cemetery has a final cut and will premiere locally on May 4. The video team plans a Q&A after the showing; the commission discussed distribution beyond the island. Commission member Alan said that a local public-access television station (NCTV) will cover the premiere and produce a one-hour program for broadcast; after several broadcasts the commission expects the program to be posted on YouTube and available off-island, with an estimate given by a commissioner that it could be "on YouTube by June." The commission discussed sharing the finished video beyond the island via the Black Cemetery Network and embedding the film on the town's YouTube page and the Cemetery Commission's playlist.

The meeting included technical and program details raised by a visitor, Jason Finger of the Mariah Mitchell Association. Finger offered to support training and stone-conservation workshops for volunteers and caretakers, saying, "I would love to do more workshops," and described his experience running monument-cleaning workshops and training with proper materials and methods.

Commissioners discussed ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at several sites. They said GPR already showed Newtown contains more burials than previously documented and agreed additional clearing ("grubbing") of brush will be needed before further GPR surveying and an updated cemetery layout. Commissioners noted Old North Cemetery and the former Gardner Burial Ground may be effectively full; they discussed the possibility of surveying Old North to clarify whether unmarked areas contain graves but also cautioned that very old graves sometimes are indistinguishable in GPR results.

Commissioners discussed funding options. Alan said the commission requested roughly $75,000 per cemetery in a previous Community Preservation (CPC) round; with the current Newtown bid coming in nearer $51,000, commissioners said funds should remain available for continued restoration and potentially for a modest monument project. They also noted the town can accept gifts and smaller public fundraising could be aggregated through town procedures.

The commission outlined next steps: staff and commissioners will produce price and size options for the proposed Absalom and Hannah Boston monument for a future meeting; finalize the Newtown contract and begin site work as the contract is executed; and proceed with distribution plans for the documentary following the May 4 premiere. Commissioners also encouraged continued volunteer training and careful conservation methods for stone cleaning and maintenance.

Quotes in context: Jason Finger, Mariah Mitchell Association: "I would love to do more workshops," speaking about teaching correct stone-cleaning techniques and volunteer training.

Ending: The commission set the monument study as a short-term follow-up deliverable and agreed to revisit specific estimates and design details at its next meeting. Commissioners said they will embed the completed documentary on town channels after the NCTV broadcasts and return to the commission with updates on the Newtown contract and subsequent site work.