Mount Auburn Cemetery

Boston Sept. 15. 1863

Col. W^m R. Lee

Dear Sir,

I have submitted to the Committee on Lots your request, to know you what sum this Corporation will assume the perpetual care of lot No. 1175 in the Cemetery belonging to Mrs. Sarah Skinner and have this reply. The Committee on Lots will recommend the Trustees to guarantee the perpetual care of this Lot after it has been put in repair satisfactory to the Superintendent, for $300.

The Superintendent in his report of the condition of the lot, after describing it in other particulars says: -“The lot is all moss! Requires grading, and fence wants some slight repairs, and also painting, with cost $25 to put it in good order.”

Your most respectfully Austin J. Coolidge Sec.y Mt. A. Cem.y

Boston Sept.^r17, 1863

Capt D. L. Winsor, Sup^t Dear Sir,

The price proposed by the Com^ee on Lots for Perpetual care of lot no. 1676 on Cypress Av. owned by [devisees?] of late Sarah Baxter, of Newton, viz $400, having been accepted by the Sec^y and trustee, he, wishes to pay over not only that but the same necessary for present repair, & for the care of lot, as ordered, this year, in one sum; and it has been agreed with him that the lot shall be put into the condition, immediately, which you think proper, for its acceptance, and the amount be made [up?] and sent to Mr. H. C. Stephens for payment.

You said in the report of condition, under quest 7^th “nothing except ‘tis set in brimstone, which eventually destroys the stone.”

You are authorized to put it in the requisite condition, and add to that charge the care for present year. The parties are very anxious to have this done at once.

Make bill to “Estate of Daniel Baxter, deceased.”

Truly yours

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y

87

June 16 4 [1864?]

Capt. D. L. Winsor

Dear Sir,

Mr Austin states that "you have not been notified that lots 1676, 2151, 3324, 126, 417, + 801, are to be taken care of by the Corporation", and requests me to so inform the Treas^r-; but as the Treas is in Washington, I think it easier & safer to acquaint you directly. Lots 1676, 3324, 126 & 801 have the guaranty of perpetual repair; 2151 + 497 have not.

Mr. Austin further wishes me to "obtain from the Superintendent, a list of all lots that are in bad order, that the proprietors may be notified."

If you had any conversation with him about this, I presume you know whether he refers to all lots in the cemetery coming under [identical?] [?], or only those cared for by the Corporation, & subject to the inspection of the Committee on Lots. I don't know which he wishes, as I have not seen him. His request is in writing.

Mrs. Marion S. L. Churchill has just deposited with the Corporation $300 to be added to the Repair Fund, for the perpetual care of her lot no. 243, on Woodbine Path, the northwesterly side of Appleton Hill. Neither Mrs. C. nor I could tell what amount would be sufficient - but I think this will do whatshe wishes. She has for years been accumu-- lating this sum and now puts it into the hands of the Corporation as a safe place of deposit & accumulation, if more should be necessary. I will give you her idea, and you will please report about her lot. She has never had anything done to the lot - and wishes but little done - likes the pines there, but wishes a stump dug out - a

155

360

Trustees ~ Adj^d Meeting Jany. 30, 1865.

Mr Austin for the Committee on Lots also submitted a report as follows: _

Report of Com. on Lots on Lots recently accepted for Perpetual Repair _

"The Committee on Lots Report, That they have contracted for the Perpetual repair of Lots not heretofore reported as follows: _

Voted that this Board concur in the foregoing contracts.

39

Sept. 28^th [18]80

Miss M.S. Shattuck

Dear Madam

On the receipt of your note of the 24^th Sept. I went to your lot to examine its condition. I find that the soil is poor and that the shade from the two large trees added to that of the fence and headstones is too much altogether for good grass. The roots of the tree are all through the lot, and draw out the nourishment before the grass & myrtle can get it. By digging the lot now, removing the roots and putting in plenty of good soil, the lot would be put in good order for a while, but the roots would soon fill it up again & then the grass & myrtle would grow poor. As this would be a large expense, I should not advise it, if you are willing to wait for the grass seed that has been put in to grow. This requires frequent rain. The lot has been seeded twice, but the season has been a particularly hard one on account of the great dryness.

On the Baxter lot a much larger amount of money has been expended, the lot having been resodded several times, and being free from very much shade, so that it ought to look better. Our men have been to your lot & cut what

List of Lots to be kept in repair