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Somerville committee advances funding for veterans memorial restoration, digitization project
Summary
The finance committee recommended appropriations to restore bronze markers, granite memorials and the historic fence at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and accepted a smaller archival grant to digitize memorial records; officials said work aims for substantial progress by Memorial Day.
The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 24 recommended approval of a Community Preservation Act appropriation to fund restoration work at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery (1330 Broadway) and to accept a matching archival grant for digitization and public access.
Veterans Services Director Jerome Thomas outlined a CPA historic‑preservation proposal totaling $306,250 to conserve 69 bronze flat grave markers, restore larger bronze features (including World War II plaques and a servicemember statue), clean and repair granite memorials and rehabilitate the historic iron fence and entrance posts. Thomas said the project will also include limited, preservation‑driven landscape work to improve safety and public access.
“This project represents the critical investment in the preservation of Somerville's historic veterans memorials and assures that these sites receive professional conservation treatment,” Thomas said, adding the city aims to advertise an RFP immediately and begin work in spring with the goal of completing a majority of the work by Memorial Day.
The committee also laid on the table an archival/digitization grant ($15,000) from the State Historical Records Advisory Board to photograph memorials, create a GIS map of memorial locations and develop a searchable online archive to preserve historical records for public and educational use. Thomas said the digitization project addresses the risk of informational loss across more than 60 memorials and related materials.
Councilors asked about outreach and physical access for veterans who may not use online tools; one councilor suggested placement of public access computers or kiosks in veterans‑oriented community locations to ensure the archive is accessible.
The committee recommended approval of the CPA appropriation and the archival grant and laid the items on the table to be formally approved at the meeting’s close.
