Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-22
Excitement In Worcester.

The people of Worcester have for the
past few months been unduly excited upon
grave subject-a matter Of graves, rather.
perhaps it should be said Worcester had
one burial place, an acre of land divided
into l60 lots, which is free to all inhabit-
ants of the town, to select lots as may be
needed. For the past fifteen Or twenty
years lots have been taken up at about an
average of four annually. and now only
some twenty lots included in the original
purchase remain untaken. Last year the
selectmen, after carefully considering the
matter, decided to enlarge this cemetery,
and purchased about four acres additional
land. This purchase included the entire
field adjoining the cemetery, is bounded by
steep banks on all sides but the front, is
smooth, dry, suitable for burial purposes
and convenient of access to the entire
town. Late last fall, IT meeting called
for the purpose, the town directed the Sc
lectmen to fence the whole ground with
such fence as they deemed proper. The Sc
lectmen accordingly contracted to have the
fence built. At the annual March meeting
an attempt was made to sell back n part
of the newly purchased land. This propo
sition was voted down by one majority.
Not satisfied with this, the opponents of the
enlargement Of the cemetery called another
meeting to see if the town would vote to
sell off any of the newly purchased lands.
Prior to the day for the meeting paper
was circulated for signatures, protesting
against the sale of any portion of the cem-
etery grounds, the intention being to retain
This paper received over 100 signatures.
which is a large majority of the voters in
| Worcester, and represents much more
than half of the list of the town. The
meeting when convened promptly voted by
large majority to dismiss the article
relative to 4 sale of any of the land. The
meeting also voted by a majority of 80, to
appoint Horatio Templeton and William
Bruce, Jr., a committee to act with the Sc
lectmen in laying out the newly acquired
grounds. This was practically the test
vote of the meeting, as Messrs. Templeton
and Bruce were the especial champions of
the proposed enlargement, and the friends
thereof desired Il board in laying out the
grounds that would faithfully carry out the
wishes of the town rs expressed by their
several votes.
After the last meeting all the voters
without distinction of party, were invited
to an oyster supper held at Bliss Hotel,
and large number accepted the invitation
The supper was good one, and the best OF
feeling and good order characterized the
proceedings. Many of the voters had come
Il long distance to exercise their right OF
franchise on matter affecting their inter
ests and views and were pleased that their
village friends remembered them by invit-
ing them to so Widespread and bountifully-
supplied a table of refreshments. Consider
able bitterness of feeling has been created
by these various meetings, but rs it is not
possible for everybody to be pleased when
they desire different things, and majorities
must naturally rule. it is now hoped that
all will acquiesce cheerfulIy in the result
reached, and that Worcester will have nc
more wrangling over the cemetery ques-
ton.