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Restoration of Munroe Family Plot Fencing
The Friends of Sleepy Hollow recently funded the restoration of the beautiful iron fence originally placed
at the front of the burial site of William Munroe and his family within Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The fence,
constructed in the late 1800’s, had fallen into such disrepair that it had been removed and placed in
storage.
William Munroe (1806-1877), was born in Concord and after living all over the world as a successful
business man, he returned when he retired to spend his summers in Concord – specifically at the house
that still stands at the corner of Main Street and Academy Lane. With the same determination he
leveraged in his business dealings, Munroe established the Concord Free Public Library, including
purchasing the property, and orchestrating the moving of buildings, the widening of Main Street,
negotiations with town officials and overseeing the move of the Town Library books to the new facility.
He also elicited support to expand the Library’s collection from 7,000 volumes, cultivating Ebenezer
Rockwood Hoar, George Merrick Brooks, Henry Francis Smith and others. The new library was
dedicated on October 1, 1873.
The ornate black fencing that has now been restored is emblematic of enclosures that were popular in
the Victorian era.
The restoration work was performed by DeAngelis Iron Works and the Warwick Carpenters Company
and funded by The Friends of Sleepy Hollow, who are citizens who comprise a non-profit community
organization with a mission to further enhance and promote the preservation, beautification, and
appreciation of the public burial grounds of the Town of Concord.
at the front of the burial site of William Munroe and his family within Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The fence,
constructed in the late 1800’s, had fallen into such disrepair that it had been removed and placed in
storage.
William Munroe (1806-1877), was born in Concord and after living all over the world as a successful
business man, he returned when he retired to spend his summers in Concord – specifically at the house
that still stands at the corner of Main Street and Academy Lane. With the same determination he
leveraged in his business dealings, Munroe established the Concord Free Public Library, including
purchasing the property, and orchestrating the moving of buildings, the widening of Main Street,
negotiations with town officials and overseeing the move of the Town Library books to the new facility.
He also elicited support to expand the Library’s collection from 7,000 volumes, cultivating Ebenezer
Rockwood Hoar, George Merrick Brooks, Henry Francis Smith and others. The new library was
dedicated on October 1, 1873.
The ornate black fencing that has now been restored is emblematic of enclosures that were popular in
the Victorian era.
The restoration work was performed by DeAngelis Iron Works and the Warwick Carpenters Company
and funded by The Friends of Sleepy Hollow, who are citizens who comprise a non-profit community
organization with a mission to further enhance and promote the preservation, beautification, and
appreciation of the public burial grounds of the Town of Concord.
