Cemetery Association Holds Annual Meeting, Looks to Future

Above, Mary Olsson, Toni Smit, and Sandy Hunter of the Cemetery Association review material at the start of the meeting. Other trustees include Lois D'Amelio (president), Donald Goddard, Kimberly Lewis, and Nancy Ross.

Like the famous Christmas essay, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus," it might be also noted that "Yes, there is a Cemetery Association." Formally established in 1898, it has been quietly doing its work in Franklin ever since, superintending all aspects of the historic Union Street Cemetery as well as the much smaller and older Franklin town cemetery that it surrounds. The latter is owned by the town and the former, the private Cemetery Association, receives a small annual payment from the town for oversight and maintenance.

Last Monday, the Association members met at the Franklin Senior Center to hear a review of financial matters courtesy of CPA Herb Hunter and to discuss the outlook moving forward. The immediate post-pandemic period saw an unusual imbalance between income and expenses, leading  Secretary/Treasurer Toni Smit to suggest that efforts need to be made to expand income.

Smit said the Cemetery is still far from running out of space, despite population growth, saved in part by the increased popularity of cremation. She said the cemetery owns additional land adjacent to McCarthy Street that probably will not be needed for many years to come.

The meeting also yielded ideas for expanded outreach to those with family connections in the cemetery and to the public in general.