Church moves graves for possible land deal
Published on October 20th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - For many years there were shallow, unmarked graves of stillborn babies in the 4.3-acre St. Patrick Cemetery property the town is considering buying from the Archdiocese this year.
"This was common knowledge," Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said.
The presence of the graves on the land, which abuts the north side of Broadway Street, had previously influenced the Archdiocese not to sell, according to developers who showed interest in the property some years back.
But, according to Father Bill Schmidt, Pastor of St. Patrick Church, the graves were moved four months ago.
"The graves were exhumed and reburied near the gate (outside of the area for sale) of the cemetery," Schmidt said. "We plan to construct a memorial to the children with flowers, benches and a statue of the Blessed Mother."
Nutting said that if the town purchases the property, he would ask for a certificate from the Archdiocese assuring the town that the graves had been moved.
Schmidt said this would be no problem.
The certificate however, would come from the Archdiocese, not St. Patrick Church. The St. Patrick Cemetery is under the control of the Archdiocese, as are all Catholic cemeteries in the area.
Therefore, money from the sale of the property would go to the Archdiocese, not St. Patrick Church.
"All the money would go into a cemetery trust for the development of Catholic cemeteries," Schmidt said.
However, Schmidt said he understands that the money would go primarily to the expansion of the St. Patrick cemetery on the other side of Broadway Street.
"This could take care of us for cemetery space for the next 100 years," Schmidt said.
The current cemetery land stretches almost to Elm Street, encompassing the existing soccer fields.
"As part of the sale the Archdiocese will deed over the land we are already letting the town use as soccer fields, and the town will put up a fence to show the new property line," Schmidt said.
The rest of the money will be used to expand and improve the cemetery land between Broadway and the new fence.
The cost
Figures as high as $1.6 million have been tossed around, but no one on either side of the sale has confirmed these numbers.
The town sold the land to the Church in the 1940s for $1, but the Church has let the town play soccer on cemetery land for years.
Nutting said an appraisal must be done to determine the reasonable price range of the 4.3-acre parcel north of Broadway. As of press time the appraisal was not complete.
Using methods employed by developers to determine the value of the property indicates that $1.6 million is a relatively high price. The town would be paying more per each "rough" lot (a lot for which no building plan has been approved) than the average going rate for lots with approved plans.
Approval of the purchase will go before the townspeople as Article 15 on the Oct. 25 Special Town Meeting Warrant.
At this point selectmen will make a dollar recommendation.
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