Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 111 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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Ye Olde Burial Ground at Olde Chelsea
The burial ground at Old Chelsea has a pair of wrought iron gates which greet the visitor with, on the left: "Chelsea 1891" and on the right "CEMETARY (sic) 1891" inscribed on two panels. The gates with the panels were likely the work of Philip Leppard, the local blacksmith who with his family, rest in unmarked graves in this cemetery.
Despite the date on the gates, this site was used for interments much earlier. The ground was presented by Thomas Brigham, son-in-law of Philemon Wright, to the community. As Brigham died in 1842 his gift must have been earlier. A further point is that Brigham would never have called it a cemetery. As a New Englander he would have used the term "burial ground" or "burying ground". There is no record of Thomas Brigham living in Old Chelsea, but we do know that he and his wife lived at Columbia Farm in Hull. However, Brigham did own two mills, one grist and one saw, here (in Old Chelsea). As the burial ground was a Protestant gift, Brigham generously matched that by giving land for the Roman Catholics of St. Stephen's.
Long after Thomas Brigham had died and those in the burial ground who had descendants had themselves died or moved away the grounds gradually deteriorated. Seldom did anyone come to put flowers at the grave sites, stones either fell or were pushed over, iron railings rusted and fell down, small trees and shrubs once planted grew to enormous sizes, pushing stones over and imprisoning railings and to all intents and purposes the burial grounds appeared abandoned.
Some attempts were indeed made by well-meaning individuals to put together with iron strapping and bolts those stones broken in two pieces. This operation did not help too much as stainless steel strapping had not been used, neither were the bolts and nuts used to hold the iron strapping to the stone. Consequently further damage was the result.
Billy Trudeau, a public spirited citizen set two of the stones, those of Thomas Wright, Philemon's older brother and Rev. Asa Meech, on concrete bases. His effort did somewhat arrest the deterioration.
And through the goodness of heart of someone at the National Capital Commission the mowing of the grass prevented the site from becoming a complete eyesore.
For a number of years people who wished to use the burial ground did not know to whom to approach for permission. Often the local historical society was asked, but not having authority to give it so sidestepped the issue. The municipality had an orphan on its hands.
Finally the whole subject came up at a public gathering at the Chelsea School where Mrs. Jean Pigott then chairperson of the National Capital Commission addressed the audience. This was when the late Mr. Douglas Minnes who was Mayor of West Hull brought up the question of the burial ground. The problem was resolved by Mrs. Pigott offering $10,000 for a general clean up and repair job, provided the Mayor would persuade the Municipal Council to match her offer.
* Not long afterwards, Bob Phillips and I were asked to sit on the Council's committee in charge of restoration. A little while later the new Mayor, Mrs. Judy Grant, attended a small ceremony at the gates of the burial ground when Mrs. Pigott handed over the first cheque for the sum of $2,500.
An expert in restoration was brought in to tell us amateurs what would be needed and how to use our new found knowledge. Several trees were removed for safety's sake. The old part of the burial ground was divided by a hedge from the newer part where recent burials had taken place.
This summer a wooden fence was installed around the property. The first steps were taken to repair gravestone damage -- It had been difficult to locate a competent mason to undertake this delicate task, but found he was and the job is about one third completed. Once all the stones are fixed, we shall require large numbers of volunteers to help wash and clean them.
* George Gould is the chairman. 1992-1993.