Cemetery Restoration and Beautification

This Spring we will be setting up a community work weekend ( tentatively 5/3) to begin restoration of the Black Section of Block Islands main cemetery.

This secluded enclave contains the graves of Elwin and Clara Perry along with Robert Smith. This small piece of land, in the back right corner of the Island Cemetery, was privately purchased for Black residents who were not allowed to be laid to rest in the main section of the cemetery.

The path leading to this section of the cemetery is strewn with dog excrement, lawn clippings and garbage, along with being completely unmarked.

We also plan to clean and restore all gravestones in both the Black Cemetery and Indigenous Cemetery and carry out the Manissean tribes wishes for plantings, grounds keeping and markers on these sacred sites.