N Craftsbury Cemetery Fence Preservation Project

It is said that “you can tell a lot about a town by the way it cares for its cemeteries”. Our Common Cemetery is such a place, and its beauty has spoken well of our community.

Craftsbury Common is listed in Vermont’s State Register of Historic Districts and our beautiful Craftsbury

Common Cemetery lies within that District. With its ornate and remarkable fence, this cemetery is both beautiful and historic with the first internment being that of Ebenezer Crafts in 1810, buried in prominence as our founding father. Over the years, he has been joined there by our honored war dead and many generations of loved ones.

Installed circa 1902, the ornate wrought iron fence has long been considered an outstanding material component of the district. The fence has been painted and repainted, but over the years, other needs took precedence, the

cemetery’s fence has gone to rust and is leaning and sinking badly.

Three things need to happen to preserve this lovely and historic anchor of our community for the future.

1. Preservation: removal of the fence for sandblasting and repainting; repairing damage; placing all back into a firm foundation

2. Commitment of our community joining together in the preservation of this space. Our town has started us off with a commitment of $2,500 from the town budget. $10,000 has been allocated from the operating funds of the North Craftsbury Cemetery Association. Fundraising will accomplish the remainder of our need.

3. Maintanance going forward, through a committed maintanance program. For that, we are grateful for a solid commitment from Sterling College for the inclusion of this maintenance into its work study curriculum.

Preservation of our fence will cost $36,775. With town and the Cemetery Association help, we still must raise $24,275. While we are applying for grants, we know they will cover only a small part of the cost and we are more likely to succeed in our application with evidence of local support.

Please help us preserve our beautiful cemetery fence for another 100 years. Your gift will ensure that the historic fence continues to grace the North Craftsbury Cemetery.