Seekonk History Walking Tour with the Gravestone Girls

Seekonk, MA – The Seekonk Library is happy to host cemetery educators the Gravestone Girls for the program Walking the Graveyard, a walking tour of Burial Place Hill in Rehoboth on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 from 6 PM to 8 PM. The Rehoboth cemetery walk will be an exploration of Colonial Seekonk prior to it becoming its own town in 1812. This walk will be fun, educational and is meant to inspire visitors to support and care for these ancient spaces, helping ensure their protection and remembrance. Participants will meet at the Burial Place Hill entrance on Peckham Street in Rehoboth, MA, by 6 PM, wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight; rain or shine we’ll be walking! This program is funded by a grant from the Seekonk Cultural Council (a local agency), part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (a state agency).

Burial practices and traditions play a large part in our culture. By studying the folk art and messages found on old gravestones, Seekonk residents can develop a greater appreciation for the breadth of their history and maybe even make a genealogical connection by looking backward in time to their Rehoboth origins. Graveyards are living history museums and valuable cultural resources!

The Gravestone Girls have been roaming cemeteries professionally for more than twenty years. The group regularly works with libraries, historical societies and genealogical groups, among others, to teach about “the art, symbolism and history of the cemetery which is in almost every town” says Ms. Sullivan, one in the group’s cemetery enthusiasts. She further added “Almost everyone is interested in these peaceful and beautiful places, but may be hesitant to express it. Our programs let you know you’re not alone in your love for these amazing spaces!”