What’s new?

October 27, 2009 in Announcements, Exhibits and Lectures, Fundraisers and Sale Items, Local Support | Tags: | Leave a comment

boneyardcard2

History Underfoot III Tour The History Underfoot III Tour was a great success. The Fall River Garden Club, Fall River Historical Society and The Little Theatre of Fall River, Inc. did a wonderful job planning, organizing and executing the events of the day. We thank the organizers for inviting us to participate and to everyone who stopped by our booth to talk, donate and purchase calendars!

 Healthy City Fall River FOG has applied for, and received, a $500 grant through HCFR for tree planting in the spring of 2010. We appreciate the continued support from HCFR and all the excellent work David Weed and his staff does throughout the year. Please take a moment to view the following link: http://www.gfrpartners.com/09OakGroveHistoryWalk.html

October 28 Artists and Fall River Natives Jim Charette and Mark Delisle present Boneyard, a series of paintings, prints, photography, music, video and more inspired by Oak Grove Cemetery. The gallery opening will be from 6-9PM on Wednesday, 10/28 at the Cherry & Webb Gallery, 139 South Main Street. Jim and Mark grew up on opposite ends of Oak Grove and attribute the formation of their life-long friendship to their old “stomping grounds”. As such, this cemetery holds a special meaning to both Jim and Mark.  Both artists have generously agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of their artwork to the Friends of Oak Grove. Please mark your calendar and consider attending this event and support these two local artists.

November 17 The Fall River Garden Club will host Invaders In Our Midst, an educational program on the damaging effects the Asian Longhorned Beetle has had on trees. Event will take place on November 17 at 9:30AM at the Union United Methodist Church, 600 Highland Avenue. A presentation will be made by Jennifer Forman-Orth, State Survey Coordinator with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The event is free and open to the public.

New Oak Grove Calendar Unveiled

September 30, 2009 in Announcements, Cemetery Structures, Extraordinary Tombstones and Monuments, Fundraisers and Sale Items, Oak Grove Notables, Potpourri, The History of Oak Grove | Tags: | Leave a comment

 

oakgrovecalendar

These high quality, full-color calendars are spiral bound and printed on heavy cardstock

 

Our calendars feature photographic contributions by Mary Beth Rigby and William Moniz as well as historic images donated from private collections

Layout by Ann Keane

Additionally, the birth dates of notable historical figures are observed throughout

 

Limited quantities of our calendars are available for $15 and make a wonderful holiday gift

 

Shipping is an additional $1 per calendar.  Those in the Fall River area may arrange for pickup.  Please call or email to reserve your copy or to arrange for pickup

 

Payment may be mailed to:

The friends of oak grove cemetery

96 colfax street

Fall river, MA 02720

Ph: 508-642-9636

Autumn Events

September 18, 2009 in Announcements, Borden Family Plot, Member News, Oak Grove Notables, Oak Grove Tours and Events, Oak Grove in the News, Tree Planting, Tree Program | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

This week’s Fall River Spirit contains a front page article by Bill Moniz covering a recent walk through Oak Grove conducted by arborist Dennis Brodeur.  Dennis’ walk was quite insightful for the 20 or so individuals who attended.  Our thanks to Dennis for his efforts to enlighten us on the importance of Oak Grove’s ecosystem as well as to Bill for his coverage of the event.  For our members who are outside the area, below is a link to the article:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/PUB03/909170374 

October 4

History Underfoot III Tour – The Fall River Garden Club, Fall River Historical Society and The Little Theatre of Fall River, Inc. will be hosting their 3rd tour of this historic cemetery, sponsored in part by Citizens-Union Savings Bank.  The group has graciously agreed to donate a portion of their profits toward the purchase of a Memorial Tree.  F.O.G .has been invited to provide an informational table on our group and the work we are doing to restore Oak Grove. Past tours have been a tremendous success and we hope that you will plan to attend.  Tour will be conducted from 11 – 3:30 and tickets for the fundraiser are $15.  Rain date is October 11.   

October 8

The Friends of the Fall River Library, in conjunction with the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, will be screening the film The American Elm: Majestic, Imperiled, Renewed from 7:00 – 8:30PM at the Main Library.  FOG Board Member Mary Ann Wordell will provide a brief introduction.  Light refreshments will be served.

 

October 28

Artists and Fall River Natives Jim Charette and Mark Delisle present Boneyard, a series of paintings, prints, photography, music, video and more inspired by Oak Grove Cemetery.  The gallery opening will be from 6-9PM at the Cherry & Webb Gallery, 139 South Main Street.  Jim and Mark grew up on opposite ends of Oak Grove and attribute the formation of their life-long friendship to their old “stomping grounds”.  As such, this cemetery holds a special meaning to both Jim and Mark.  Jim and I have been discussing this event for well over a year now and both artists have generously agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of their artwork to the Friends of Oak Grove.  Please mark your calendar and consider attending this event and support these two local artists.

September Memorial Tree Program

September 4, 2009 in Announcements, Member News, Tree Planting, Tree Program | Leave a comment

The Friends of Oak Grove Cemetery is now accepting orders for our 2009 Memorial Tree Program. Orders for our Fall planting must be received by September 30th. We would like to thank all those who have made this past year a tremendous success. A total of 30 trees have been planted since the program’s inception. Trees may be purchased for $175 or $160 for members. Annual membership is $25. Those interested in purchasing a tree or becoming a member, please contact FOG president Michael Keane at 508-642-9636 or via email at friendsofoakgrove@yahoo.com. It is not necessary that a loved one be buried in Oak Grove in order to purchase a tree. The Friends is a volunteer organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of this historic cemetery. Our work is officially recognized by and coordinated with the Fall River Board of Park Commissioners.

Oak Grove Trolley Stop

July 22, 2009 in Local Support, Navigating Oak Grove, Oak Grove Notables, Oak Grove Tours and Events, Oak Grove in the News, Potpourri, The History of Oak Grove | Tags: , | Leave a comment

trolley

This summer, the city of Fall River is running a series of 45 minute trolley tours scheduled to highlight significant points of interest within the city.  Among the destinations along the tour is Oak Grove Cemetery.  Tour guides will provide visitors with a narrative of the cemetery’s historical importance and will recognize the impact FOG’s work is having on the cemetery.  Tours are free and open to the public and we encourage you to attend.  Although FOG played a small role in assisting the city in preparing the grant used to fund this project, there was considerable effort spent by the city and other volunteers in applying for this competitive grant.  You can find more details at the following link:

http://www.fallriverma.org/pressarticles.asp?ID=321

What’s new for summer 2009

July 22, 2009 in Announcements, Extraordinary Tombstones and Monuments, Funeral History, Local Support, Member News, Oak Grove Tours and Events, Oak Grove in the News, Tree Planting | 1 comment

  • Inscription Survey: A survey form has been completed and we plan to begin recording headstone inscriptions soon.

 

  • Fall River Street Tree Planting Program: 

      On Tuesday July 28th at 7PM in the 1st floor meeting room of the FR Library (Main Branch), the FRSTPP will be hosting a session on Tree Disease and Insects.  FRSTPP has provided considerable support with our tree planting efforts.  Hope to see you there!

 

  • People, Inc.: Although we have had considerable rain of late, People, Inc. has provided us with a much needed service.  Specifically, watering and caring for the 30 trees which FOG has planted over the past year.  Our thanks to Bill Perkins and the fine folks at People, Inc.!

 

  • Fall River Spirit: We’d like to once again extend our appreciation to reporter Bill Moniz for his efforts in getting our work recognized and for covering our May tree planting.

 

The custom of Maidens’ Garlands

July 15, 2009 in Funeral History, Funeral Vocabulary, Potpourri, The Victorian Way of Death, We get mail | Leave a comment

In the mailbox today we received a query about Maidens’ Garlands- a custom which seems to have originated, or else was extremely popular in 19th century Great Britain.  When a maiden lady passed away, especially a very young, unmarried girl, it was a custom for young Funeral-Garland-Matlockladies of the parish to construct garlands which were solemnly carried before the casket by two maidens on the way to the cemetery.  These garlands were constructed of white paper, and after the cemetery service were hung in the church.  Also crowns of white living flowers were made which would be borne to the grave by maidens in flowing white dresses, generally processing in pairs.  Statuary in Oak Grove frequently makes use of the symbolism of a crown of rosebuds, lilies, and garland swags for the grave markers of maidens.

bramley

A Maiden’s Garland still hanging in a church in England

maiden

 

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