Cemetery Committee
Since its origin in the early 1600’s, Portsmouth has never stopped changing and rebuilding. Old houses and buildings have constantly been demolished or moved to make way for residential and commercial development. As the city grew around them, the old burial grounds and cemeteries of Portsmouth went through long periods of neglect and intermittent repair before their care was entrusted to a group of local volunteers, the Cemetery Committee, who now work with the City's Parks & Greenery Division to protect and preserve these historical assets.
HISTORIC CEMETERIES HEADSTONE CLEANING OPPORTUNITIES – The City Cemetery Committee will again invite volunteers to join the guided historic headstone cleaning effort in North Cemetery on Maplewood Avenue in the spring of 2023. There will also be dates reserved for groups. Please contact: Sue Sterry sterry10@ymail.com or Deidre Forte deedee.forte@yahoo.com
The Cemetery Committee was created by the City Council in 2021 with the responsibility of encouraging the restoration, preservation and safeguarding of Portsmouth’s historic cemeteries and their history for future generations.
The Cemetery Committee ordinance establishes that:
A. Membership and Term:
The Cemetery Committee shall consist of not less than twelve (12) or more than eighteen (18) regular members. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the City Council for a term of two (2) years, coterminous with the City Council term.
B. Powers and Duties:
The Committee shall provide advice and recommendations to the City Manager and the City Council with respect to all issues affecting municipal cemeteries, including the solicitation and acceptance of grants; the expenditure of any funds for specific improvements; and any expenditures from the Cemetery Trust Fund. Nothing herein shall limit the power of the City Council or City Manager to take immediate action in the event of exigent circumstances.
C. It shall be the responsibility of the Cemetery Committee to encourage the restoration, preservation, and safeguarding of Portsmouth’s historic cemeteries and their history for future generations.
2013 Existing Conditions Assessment Report
Presentation to City Council (April 18, 2022)
For more information about Portsmouth's Historic Cemeteries and the African Burying Ground Memorial, click here.
Committee Members (until December 31, 2023):
Chris Benecick
Eva Boice
Celeste Brooks
Deirdre (Dee) Forte, co-chair
Michael Griffin
Donald Margeson
Duncan MacCallum
Sue Polidura
Kerry Rubinstein
Susan Sterry, co-chair