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Our Mission Statement

The Friends of Ancient Cemetery is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the historical and cultural significance of Yarmouth Massachusetts' oldest burying ground.

News & Announcements

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On July 26th we were fortunate to have the terrific Greg Williams present a program on the catacombs and cemeteries of Paris and Rome at the 1717 Meetinghouse in West Barnstable. The audience was captivated and thoroughly enjoyed it. Proceeds in part benefitted our work in Ancient Cemetery. Many thanks to Greg and the Meetinghouse Foundation for partnering with us.

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Fannin Lehner Consultants, June 2024

We were fortunate to have the Fannin - Lehner Consultants working in Ancient Cemetery during the week of June 24th. Click the image (then click "slideshow" at the top right of the screen, then click each slide to advance) to see photos of the restoration work they did on gravestones, including those belonging to Sylvanus Matthews, Deacon Samuel Thacher, and the Hamblin Family Monument. Donations and grants make this work possible. Please consider a gift to allow us to continue this work.

New : An Analysis of Epitaphs from Ancient Cemetery Gravestones

2024 Annual Volunteer Kick-Off Event

Volunteers gathered on Sunday, April 7th, at the Town of Yarmouth Department of Public Works building to enjoy food, fun, friends and a review of 2023 accomplishments. 

A new analysis was done of Ancient Cemetery data which was shared with everyone. We'll be posting that soon.

We Need You! Please consider volunteering for one of these important positions.
We promise support and mentoring

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Making
Ancient Cemetery bloom!

Our dedicated volunteers worked, despite the rain, to plant 400 daffodil bulbs along the Winter Street fence in late October. We can't wait for Spring to see them bloom.

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Fannin - Lehner Preservation Work Continues, September 2023

Professional conservators continue to assess and repair the most vulnerable gravestones in Ancient Cemetery thanks to town Community Preservation Funds.  J & M Fannin-Lehner Preservation Consultants of Concord, MA returned to the cemetery the week of September 11th to assess and repair stones most in need. Photos of some repairs are below - use the arrows to scroll. To read a complete report of the work they accomplished during this visit, please click here.

Award presented to Friends of Ancient Cemetery

FOAC was honored to be selected as one of two recipients in 2023 of the Fred and Rosalee Oakley Certificate of Merit, presented by the Association of Gravestone Studies to individuals and groups that have helped to advance the mission of the Association. The award was made in person by AGS board member Anne Tait, on Sunday, August 27th, at the Bangs Hallet House. Following the presentation, Judi Trainor gave a demonstration of her gravestone foil impression techniques, then the audience was invited to a reception and to view the Friends' exhibit in the museum's exhibit room.

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Oakley Award Presentation
Audience at Bangs Hallet House
Foil Gravestone impressions

Free Self-Guided Tour at Ancient Cemetery

Visit the gravestones for those Lost at Sea, a self-guided tour narrated by Judi Trainor and produced by Maria Ferrari. The tour begins at the main entrance on Center St. Bring your cell phone or ipad, capture the QR code and follow the audio instructions along with the video maps. The tour can be viewed online. It’s a fun and educational activity for family and friends.  Thank you for support from the Mid-Cape Cultural Council.

Click on the image below to begin the tour or there is also a  metal sign at the cemetery entrance with a QR code.

self-guided-tour lost at sea

Announcing a new addition to the SHOP!

A unique, quality jigsaw puzzle of Ancient Cemetery images is now available. Created specifically to provide hours of entertainment, it arrives in a sturdy black box with the guiding puzzle image on top. Final puzzle is approx 11x14 inches, 252 pieces of fun!

 

Your purchase will help us continue the work of preserving, protecting, and promoting the historical and cultural significance of Yarmouth Massachusetts' oldest burying ground. All products are sourced from high quality vendors.

Get ready to SHOP!

News & Announcements Archives

To see archived events, please click here.

Donate
Contribute to
Friends of Ancient Cemetery

The Friends of Ancient Cemetery, Inc. is a non-profit, all volunteer effort to preserve, and document carved records in Yarmouth's oldest burying ground. Through your tax-deductible support, you can help us continue to preserve our community's history for generations to come.
We are grateful for donations, large or small.

Thank you for your help.

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patience eldridge

Patience Eldridge, d. 1832, age 92

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