When people research their family histories and want to find out where they came from, they generally end up at someone's final resting place to pay their respects.
That won't be easy for those who visit many of Haverhill's old cemeteries, including the Old Bradford Burial Ground, where headstones are damaged by fallen tree limbs and the cemetery is overrun with vines and weeds, especially poison ivy.
At the Bradford cemetery, approximately 40 stones are missing, including the stone marking the final resting place of Thomas Tenney, a member of the well-known Tenney family. Thomas Tenney came to Haverhill in 1675 from the town of Rowley and was among the many early settlers of Bradford. He served in the Colonial militia and fought in King Philip's War.
The search for Thomas Tenney's grave site has added a sense of urgency to the cleanup of the burial ground. Family members are hoping to have their annual family reunion in 2009 at the Bradford Burial Ground.
Barron Tenney of Haverhill began the search for his ancestor, acting as the head of the Tenney Family Association's project to clean the Bradford Burial Ground.
The site is also the final resting place of other Tenney family members, including Charles Tenney, who built Methuen's Tenney Castle; John Tenney, who was Methuen's first town solicitor; and Mary Jane Tenney, who died in Haverhill. The Haverhill Historical Society named the main hall in the Buttonwoods Museum after her.
Barron Tenney and another family member, Deborah Bianchi, began their quest at City Hall, and met with Andrew Herlihy, chief of staff to Mayor James Fiorentini.
Next came City Council approval to work in the cemetery.
When Tenney and Bianchi went back to the old cemetery to get started, "We realized just how much work needed to be done, so we went to the special collections section in the library to get a better understanding of the burial ground itself," Tenney said.
A chance meeting with local historian Tom Spitalere at the Buttonwoods Museum created a team that will aid not only the Old Bradford Burial Ground, but other cemeteries in the city.
"It was serendipity running into Tom. He's been so helpful. We ending up joining his program. He trained me to use power tools near the graves, and (explained) the importance and need to preserve the history of the burial ground while recovering stones," Tenney said.
Spitalere is putting together a team to maintain cemeteries around the city. He is calling it the Pentucket Preservation Group, and he hopes to make it an official nonprofit group that will cover the entire Pentucket Region.
"The group will take on the landscaping and upkeep of every cemetery, which will save the city money. The Bradford Burial Ground will be the father of the movement," he said.
Spitalere is applying for nonprofit status in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. If the group becomes nonprofit, it can apply for state grants to help with funding and equipment, he said.
"The first thing I want to buy if we get approved is an above-ground radar system that can detect stones that are buried. With this, the process of locating lost stones will be less time consuming and more accurate," he said.
Spitalere has a five-step plan ready to put in place for the Bradford Burial Ground as well as each cemetery within the Pentucket Region.
First, the group will tackle landscaping, removing brush and poison ivy, and mowing the lawn.
Next will be the daunting task of locating missing stones.
"Unfortunately not all stones will be found ... some are so far underground they have disintegrated," Spitalere said. Others are lost to vandalism, he said.
The third step is cleaning and repairing the stones, and adding steel gates to the cemeteries.
After the general upkeep for each cemetery has taken place, each stone will be cataloged and placed in a database. Copies will be given to the library, City Hall and the Buttonwoods Museum.
Finally, the genealogy of each stone will be done.
The process will begin with the oldest cemeteries, Spitalere said.
The group hopes to have the Bradford Burial Ground finished and Thomas Tenney's tombstone recovered and repaired by August 2009 for the Tenney Family Reunion. If recovery is not an option, they hope to find the site where Thomas Tenney was laid to rest and place a memorial marker there.
"This has really become a labor of love for me. It's not only my family, it's a lot of history in that ground," Barron Tenney said.
The Tenneys and Spitalere's group will continue the Bradford Burial Ground cleanup every other Monday at 6 p.m., weather permitting. Volunteers are always welcome, they said.
Spitalere said his love for history is what started all his efforts and his passion for cemeteries.
"The ultimate reason I do this is because I love graveyards and I respect people's souls. To me, that's their final home and you should keep your house in order. I know cities and churches are hurting right now and I respect that. I just want to be there to help keeping these final homes in order for either the spirit or the body that's left in there," Spitalere said.
To volunteer to help with the cemetery project, contact Tom Spitalere at 978-376-2807.
Cemeteries in Haverhill
Pentucket Cemetery, 1668-1850s, Water Street
Linwood Cemetery, 1845-present, Mill Street
Old Bradford Burial Ground, 1665-1975, Salem Street
Elmwood Cemetery, 1846-present, Salem Street
Lithuanian Cemetery, 1921-present, off Salem Street
Ancient West Parish Cemetery (also known as Carleton Street or Haynes) Cemetery, 1740-present, Carleton Street
West Parish Cemetery, 1786-1840s, Broadway
Hillside Cemetery, 1830-present, Broadway
Maplewood Cemetery, 1734-present, North Main Street
City Central Cemetery, 1800s-present, Hilldale Avenue
Hilldale Cemetery, 1859-present, Hilldale Avenue
St. Joseph's Cemetery, 1904-present, Hilldale Avenue
St. Patrick's Cemetery, 1904-present, North Broadway
St. James Cemetery, 1852-present, Primrose Street
Greenwood Cemetery, 1785-present, East Broadway
Walnut Cemetery, 1748-present, Kenoza Street
Children of Israel Cemetery, 1893-present, Middle Road
Alms House Cemetery, no dates, next to Glynn Hospital
Whittier Family Cemetery, 1696-1836, Whittier Road
Rock's Village Cemetery, 1786, Holt's Rocks on hill above River Road
