Mount Auburn Cemetery

33 School St. Boston Jany. 7. 1862

Silvanus Packard Esq

Dear Sir,

The Committee on Lots have considered your application to know for what sum the Corporation will assume perpetual care of your lot and that of Mr Charles Tufts, nos. 2869 & 2870 in Mount Auburn.

They have considered the massive character of the work and the thorough manner in which it is done, and your wishes in respect to the mode of keeping the lots in order, as also your purpose to reconvey the lots, in trust, to the Corporation, with a limitation for the interments to be made: and have instructed me to inform you that they will contract therefor, for the sum of five hundred dollars for each lot.

I suppose you will notify Mr Tufts, or I will do so if you desire.

Very truly yours

A.J. Coolidge Secretary

Boston Jany. 7. 1862

Chas. Cushman Esq.

Dear Sir,

The Committee on Lots have considered your application to know for what sum the Corporation will assume the perpetual care of your lot, 2833, in Mount Auburn, upon the basis of your statement; and have instructed me to inform you that they will accept of the care of said lot in its present condition, including the bronze gates expected by you, for the sum of five hundred dollars.

When the monument is proposed, the Committee will consider whether any addition ought to be made.

Truly yours

A.J. Coolidge Secretary

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Feby. 7 [186]6

Capt. D.L. Winsor

Dear Sir,

Mrs Charles Tufts, with her husband, is quite anxious to complete the contract for the repair of lot 2870, as soon as possible, as Mr Tufts is quite old & rather feeble. You will see by the accompanying documents that that you reported upon them Jany. 2, 1862. Since then a monument has been erected on the lots, which will of course increase the cost, to say nothing of the change of rates made by the Com. on Lots, although I am not prepared to say the Com. would think it necessary to increase the $500 each aside from the monument. However, I wish you to go over the matter again with care and report, or add the mon^t to your report.

Then please take in another element. Mr Tufts has a piece of ornamental ground containing 300 feet, which Mrs Tufts thinks they might like to sell or let the Corpⁿ have in part payment. I have made a sketch from our plan of all the surrounding lots, in order that you may study this over and see whether you can fix up a 300 ft lot there with granite in the shape in which this would have to later and find a ready customer. Probably the ornamental was measured to the inside of curb of lot 2870, and you could not get more than 200 to 250 ft but I don't know how that is. It must not encroach on Meacham's -- lot 3029. They have 400 feet in lot -- 440 ft ornamental and 252 ft passageways. I don't quite see where all that land is unless a part of it is in front of lot on Lawn Av. & the rear is measured up to Stevens's curb walk. But please report, and give me your view on taking the 300 ^^{feet ornamental,} & at what price.

Respy yours

A.J. Coolidge

Feby. 13 [186]6

Capt. Winsor,

Dear Sir,

I have to request one more report -- upon lot 291, Jasmine Path, estate of Chas. T. Hildreth.

The care of this lot is enjoined upon the Widows & Fatherless Society of Boston, who have certain funds under said Hildreth's will, as an annuity. And if the Corporation will assume it for a sum which they think will cause no loss to them, they will probably prefer to be exhonorated from the care of the lot, and pass it over to the care of the Corporation. As it is a charitable Soc.y you will of course be disposed to put your figures as low as can be safely made for the Corporation.

Truly yours

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y

Feby. 14 [186]6

Mrs Charles Tufts

Madam,

I have had a report made by the Superintendent upon the lots of Mr Tufts & Mr Packard & laid before the Com^ee on Lots, and they have approved the making of a contract on both lots for $600 each. -- The former contract price was $500. That was four years ago, since which rates have advanced, and you have each added a monument to the lot. If the Committee had asked more still, I should not have been at all surprised, as they will not take risks for all time as they did three or four years ago: -- and I think they have been quite fair in their estimate.

Now upon the matter of laying out & selling a small to lot out of the

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Communication _ from John Wyeth respecting opening of drain.

A communication was received from John Wyeth requesting that the drain leading from his land through Mount Auburn might be lowered or kept open so as to let the water pass off.

Upon motion by Mr Tobey it was

Voted that the same be referred to the Committee upon Grounds and ^^that this Committee request Mr Wyeth to meet them upon the Ground and make his statement in that they have power to take such action as may be necessary, and report their doings at the next meeting.

Sale of land on Snowberry Path for erection of statue, &c-

A communication was received from Mr Mann stating that he had sold, subject to the approval of the Trustees, three lots of land upon Snowberry Path, measuring twelve hundred feet for the sum of twelve hundred ($1200) dollars_ to Charles Tufts of Somerville, 400 feet _ Silvanus Packard of Boston 400 ft, and to M.M. Ballou 400 feet_ to be in one enclosure without passageways intervening, the last named lot to be used for the erection of a marble statue to the memory of the late Rev. Hosea Ballou.

Upon motion by Mr Read, the matter was referred to the Committee upon Lots with full power.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Attest Austin J. Coolidge, Secretary