Author: Donna Ardizzoni

There are three young people, 2 from Ipswich and one from Lynn, who have taken it upon themselves to uncover Gloucester’s historic Clark Cemetery from overgrowth that has buried it for years. They are about halfway through cutting back the brush and documenting the broken gravestones they find. It’s amazing when you see it. They’ve spent every Saturday all summer working on this, along with some goats who have the winter off. There is also an active party site with a fire pit and trash in the cemetery that we need to address.

So the plan is on Saturday November 15th from 8-9 am we will collect the trash and recycling and move as much of the cut brush as we can to the road for the DPW to collect and dump. City Councilmember Melissa Cox is going to organize a truck for pickup.

If you’ve never been to Clark Cemetery, it’s behind the First Parish Burial Ground on Centennial Ave on the left if you’re coming from the waterfront, on the right coming from Washington Street. When you see the old bridge you’re there. Park on the street on Centennial and walk through First Parish Burial Ground to the back. Bring gloves, pruners/loppers/tarps/rakes/chainsaw/brushcutters – any of these are helpful. There is an area of Japanese Knotweed that we will not be touching because it’s highly invasive. We will also not be touching the broken gravestones–there is training required in handling and repairing these.

Thank you all see you on Saturday.. Remember to bring gloves.