The Westborough Cemetery Memorial Design
by Committee Member and Architect, Edward Clinton
by Committee Member and Architect, Edward Clinton
The inspiration for the Memorial design was to evoke in the viewer an immediate sense of the number of souls buried in the open expanse stretched out beyond the Memorial, through the seven headstone pillars.
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Stage one, pavers and central millstone work complete in 2018
In August 2023, with the help of a $27,700 donation from the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the project was propelled forward. The 7 large granite pillars were purchased and installed. The millstone center piece of the environment was also added to and enhanced. The Westborough Cemetery Memorial Project committee would like to thank DMH for the financial support, and Masonry Specialist, Steven J. Gallagher, for working with us on this stage of the project.
In August 2023, with the help of a $27,700 donation from the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the project was propelled forward. The 7 large granite pillars were purchased and installed. The millstone center piece of the environment was also added to and enhanced. The Westborough Cemetery Memorial Project committee would like to thank DMH for the financial support, and Masonry Specialist, Steven J. Gallagher, for working with us on this stage of the project.
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The last phase of the project is to raise an additional $45,000 to pay for the 7 bronze plates, one for each pillar. Each plate will have 125 names of people buried in the field beyond. A $5000 Donation will pay for one whole bronze plate containing 125 names. A $100 donation will pay for 4 names to be engraved. A $25 donation will pay for one person’s name to be engraved.
ONGOING RESEARCH
ONGOING RESEARCH
Westborough resident Barbara Banks is the committee's Researcher. Barbara has spent the last 3 years and hundreds of hours pouring over the Pine Grove Cemetery ledger and cross-referencing the names with Town records of death certificates in order to verify those who were reported buried at Pine Grove's Potters field. If you want to know more, you can contact Barbara Banks at banks57385@gmail.com
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Learn about Adele Cole,
the first person listed in the Potter's Field cemetery ledger and patient at Westborough State Hospital
The following excerpts are from the full genealogy report done by Polly Fitzgerald Kimmitt
the first person listed in the Potter's Field cemetery ledger and patient at Westborough State Hospital
The following excerpts are from the full genealogy report done by Polly Fitzgerald Kimmitt
Adele Louise Cole was born 13 Feb 1861 the daughter of Chandler G Cole and Charlotte M
(Teele) Sillars Cole while her parents were living at 38 Camden Street in Boston.
Two months after Adele was born the Civil War began––on 12 Apr 1861 when the Confederates
bombarded Union-controlled Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Adele’s father enlisted
in Company C of the 39th Regiment of the Massachusetts (Infantry).
On 15 Nov 1881, Adele was married to George K Cobb, a man more than twice her age, in
Lynn. Adele gave her place of birth as Lynn, and added a few years to her actual age, saying
she was 22 (born 1859, instead of 1861), probably in order not to have to ask her mother’s
permission to marry. George, a clerk, was born in Westbrook, Maine, the son of Otis and Ruth
Cobb. It was his second marriage.
Adele died on 21 Jan 1887 while a patient at the Westborough State Hospital. She died of
“exhaustion” at a little under 26 years old. Her occupation is listed as typewriter [typist], so
clearly she had tried to find a means of supporting herself. The question must be asked why
exhaustion, and whether it was a euphemism for another disease, perhaps a nervous
breakdown. Why she was not recorded under her married name remains a mystery.
For full details contact:
Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt, Certified Genealogist®
1 Kemble Drive • Shrewsbury, MA 01545 • polly@kimmittgenealogy.com
(Teele) Sillars Cole while her parents were living at 38 Camden Street in Boston.
Two months after Adele was born the Civil War began––on 12 Apr 1861 when the Confederates
bombarded Union-controlled Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Adele’s father enlisted
in Company C of the 39th Regiment of the Massachusetts (Infantry).
On 15 Nov 1881, Adele was married to George K Cobb, a man more than twice her age, in
Lynn. Adele gave her place of birth as Lynn, and added a few years to her actual age, saying
she was 22 (born 1859, instead of 1861), probably in order not to have to ask her mother’s
permission to marry. George, a clerk, was born in Westbrook, Maine, the son of Otis and Ruth
Cobb. It was his second marriage.
Adele died on 21 Jan 1887 while a patient at the Westborough State Hospital. She died of
“exhaustion” at a little under 26 years old. Her occupation is listed as typewriter [typist], so
clearly she had tried to find a means of supporting herself. The question must be asked why
exhaustion, and whether it was a euphemism for another disease, perhaps a nervous
breakdown. Why she was not recorded under her married name remains a mystery.
For full details contact:
Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt, Certified Genealogist®
1 Kemble Drive • Shrewsbury, MA 01545 • polly@kimmittgenealogy.com
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