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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:
- 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.
- Healthy City Fall River: David Weed, coordinator of HCFR, has developed another web page spotlighting our recent tree planting. Here is a link to the page: http://www.gfrpartners.com/09OakGroveTreePlanting.html
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 
ladies 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.
A Maiden’s Garland still hanging in a church in England
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