Lakeville CPC recommends $10,000 for Thompson Hill Cemetery gravestone repairs

The Town of Lakeville Community Preservation Committee voted Jan. 16 to recommend a $10,000 Step 2 CPA grant application from the Lakeville Cemetery Commission for repair and conservation work at Thompson Hill Cemetery.

A letter dated Jan. 15 from the Lakeville Historical Commission was presented and read into the record; it "strongly" supported the restoration work and noted that Thompson Hill Cemetery is on the state inventory of historic sites in Lakeville. The letter, signed by Bridal Reynolds, chairman of the Lakeville Historical Commission, also noted that proper gravestone repair and preservation would support a future National Register nomination.

Committee members reviewed a detailed cost breakdown in the application, which lists about 14 separate repair and cleaning items targeted mostly to smaller slate and marble markers. The application specifies cleaning, resetting on new foundations, and repairs appropriate to each stone type. Committee members said the same contractor had completed prior cemetery work without safety or preservation concerns.

The committee made a motion to forward the Step 2 application to the spring Town Meeting for a $10,000 appropriation and voted unanimously to do so. Committee members clarified that if the work exceeds $10,000, additional funds would not be available from the committee in that fiscal year; the Lakeville Cemetery Commission will need to seek additional funding later.

The committee emphasized that its recommendation is to place the application on the Town Meeting warrant; final funding will be determined by Town Meeting voters. Committee members also noted that some gravestones — particularly older slate markers — are fragile and that conservation work sometimes uncovers additional needs.

The letter of support from the Lakeville Historical Commission and the application materials will accompany the committee’s recommendation to the town for the spring warrant.