Beautification and Improvement


Cemetery Beautification

The summer months have brought the combined attentive efforts of the Board members of The Friends to the three gardens for which we take responsibility in the Cemetery. Each is pictured below.

Our commitment focuses on the purchasing and placement of appropriate plants, weeding, and watering, especially needed in these temperatures. We do so in keeping with our Mission to further the beautification of these hallowed grounds.

We trust that our many Friends enjoy viewing what we continue to accomplish, with gratitude to our supporters.

The Board wishes each of you the continuation of a pleasant summer.

Views of the main entrance flagpole garden.

View of the H. Thurston and Carolyn Handley Commemorative Garden.

Veterans Flagpole Garden with recently installed blue stone pavers, one inscribed.

Commemoration of Concord’s 19th Century Female Anti-Slavery Society









2024 Grave Marker Cleaning

Recently, representative Board Directors gave their services as they have done in the past to clean selected grave markers in the Cemetery as a project, consistent with the Mission of The Friends to continuing the enhancement and beautification of the Cemetery, one of Concord's treasures.

The work was carried out under the skilled direction of Board member Jim Fannin and his wife Minxie, principals of their Restorative Consultants firm.


Left to right: Kevin Thomas Plodzik, John Gardella, Nancy Reilly, Sarah Kirkpatrick, Sue Leone, Paul Murphy, Beth Stone Railsback, Jim Fannin, Sylvia Sawyer, Minxie Fannin, Priscilla White Sturges.

2023 Landscape Preservation Award Recognition

On May 25th, 2023, the Concord Historical Commission awarded in a public ceremony a 2023 Landscape Preservation Award to The Friends. The Award recognizes the preservation, restoration, or maintenance of landscapes, grounds, and gardens related to historic sites. We extend sincere gratitude to the Historical Commission for this distinctive honor, as we continue our service to the Cemetery in this third decade.

Our Mission cannot be realized without the extensive support of our donors via our Annual Fall Appeal. Once again, we thank each of you heartily.

Joining Board President Kevin Thomas Plodzik at the Awards Ceremony were colleague Directors John Gardella, Nancy Reilly, and Jim Fannin. Also in attendance was Priscilla White Sturges.

Sharing Our History, Accomplishments, And Futuer Plans

The Board accepted the kind invitation from two local organizations to present information about The Friends to their members. These were the Concord Rotary Club and The Council on Aging. Two Directors of our Board, Priscilla White Sturges and Kevin Thomas Plodzik, shared, either via ZOOM or in a hybrid format, our history, accomplishments, and future plans, with audiences, and entertained questions. We extend full appreciation to the two hosting organizations for providing these opportunities.

The Concord Chamber of Commerce offered the opportunity to us to present a “Spotlight Video” featuring our organization. Cordial appreciation is extended to the Chamber. The video clip was filmed most recently on location in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, narrated by Kevin Thomas Plodzik, and shown on the Chamber’s website. Through the courtesy of the Managing Director of the Chamber, the Video is available to watch here.

Garden Maintenance

As Concord250 Celebrations continue to come into focus, The Friends, in support of the activities, prepared the two gardens that we maintain in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

A committee of John Gardella, Vice-President, Nancy Reilly, Secretary, and Board members Sue Leone and Bobbi Benson, planned and carried out new plantings at the main flagpole with the red, white, and blue flowers identical to those seen around Town.

In addition, with full appreciation of a donation of bulbs from The Garden Club of Concord, the flagpole at Bills Veterans Garden has also been readied.

Sue Leone, Nancy Reilly, John Gardella

Gifted, recently-installed blue stones.

Commemorative Garden

In 2018 The Friends created a newly established garden dedicated to honor Concord resident Carolyn Handley and her late husband, H. Thurston Handley, Jr., who died in 2016. The Handleys worked tirelessly to create and maintain gardens in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery at the two flagpoles and in the area now known as the Town's Assessor's Office.

The Handley garden and commemorative plaque are between the third and fourth gates.

Flagpole Gardens

With initial support from a grant provided by the Garden Club of Concord, a garden was created near the main gate, around the flagpole.

The space was designed and implemented by The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Board Member H. Thurston Handley who died in 2016.

The garden is a welcoming site to visitors as they enter the Cemetery. The Friends continue to maintain this site and the one at a second flagpole in the Cemetery.

Benches

The Friends commissioned six granite benches to be placed around the Cemetery for the convenience of visitors who may want to rest while walking through the beautiful grounds. The benches were completed and placed in 2008.