Residents call to protect Brooklet Cemetery after discovery of Spanish–American War grave

A presentation on Brooklet Cemetery at the town’s March 12 meeting prompted residents to press leaders to pursue historic protections after volunteers located the grave of a Spanish–American War veteran among older markers.

Anne Cromley, who presented the cemetery findings, said the burial ground may be the town’s oldest landmark and described the discovery of the veteran’s grave. Long-time resident Gilbert Howard said it took volunteers nearly 45 minutes to find the marker among overgrown and weathered headstones, underscoring the site’s fragility and the limits of current documentation.

Community members at the Newman Center said the cemetery and other historic resources anchor Brooklet’s identity, and several speakers urged the council to explore formal historic-area designation and documentation of founding-family plots. Residents suggested protections for long-time homeowners, citing names such as Gilbert Howard and Bill Oliver as examples of families tied to older properties.

The cemetery discussion came as city leaders update the Comprehensive Land Use Plan; officials said historic designation is among the preservation tools they are considering alongside infrastructure and growth-management measures. No formal historic designation action was taken at the meeting.

Next steps: staff and volunteers will continue inventorying grave markers and discuss potential historic-area nomination procedures as part of the land-use planning process.