Bio
The Chester Cemetery Association is a 501(c)(13) established by the Town of Chester, Connecticut, in 1972 to help maintain the town-owned cemeteries.
The work done by those volunteering with the Chester Cemetery Association in Chester, Connecticut:
Old Burying Ground (c. 1736)
2024 - photo inventory of 122 extant markers.
2025 - installed a new fence; consulted with a Haddam brownstone marker enthusiast to identify carvers; cared for a senior maple tree.
2026 - transcribed inscriptions; preserved 5 brownstone markers with a CT-OPM grant; installed a new sign; researched brownstone carvers; cleaned headstones and footstones; photographed stones as they were cleaned or preserved; co-hosted a tour with the Chester Historical Society; raised money to preserve more brownstones.
2027 - sourcing epitaphs; undertaking work to preserve more brownstones.
Old Cemetery (c. 1804)
2024 - death and burial records research; photo inventory of 516 extant markers.
2025 - began mapping extant markers; removed dead and dying trees; conducted weekly community cleaning for 5 months.
2026 - hosted first "maintenance work party"; installed new sign; wrapping up mapping and condition assessment; wrapping up marker cleaning.
2027 - transcribing inscriptions and sourcing epitaphs; hoping to repair broken marble markers.
West End Cemetery (c. 1813)
2023 - photo inventory of 272 extant markers; assessed condition; updated plot address system; began cleaning and repair of markers.
2024 - researched death and burial records; identified and cleared unwanted vegetation; continued cleaning and repair of markers.
2025 - removed large dead and dying trees; Town rec'd CT-SHPO grant for subsurface survey to locate unmarked burials; transcribed inscriptions and sourced epitaphs; co-hosted tour with Chester Historical Society.
2026 - hosted first "maintenance work party"; installed new sign; collecting obituaries.
2027 - updating land survey; creating GIS; and continuing landscape restoration; installing new sign.
Laurel Hill Cemetery (c. 1866)
2023 - Urn Garden inventoried and cleaned.
2024 - VRHS Warriors in the Community cleaned 15 veterans' graves.
2025 - Town paid to restore 1929 entrance gateposts.
2026 - VRHS Warriors in the Community cleaned another 15 veterans' graves; installed a new sign; researching death and burial records.
2027 - assembling plot addresses; removing large dead and dying trees.
We also pursue our interest in researching the lives of people buried in Chester with no marker and writing brief biographies for those who would otherwise be lost to memory.
Reach out if you have any questions (or answers).
Christine Nelson, volunteer, currently serving as president
The Chester Cemetery Association is a 501(c)(13) established by the Town of Chester, Connecticut, in 1972 to help maintain the town-owned cemeteries.
The work done by those volunteering with the Chester Cemetery Association in Chester, Connecticut:
Old Burying Ground (c. 1736)
2024 - photo inventory of 122 extant markers.
2025 - installed a new fence; consulted with a Haddam brownstone marker enthusiast to identify carvers; cared for a senior maple tree.
2026 - transcribed inscriptions; preserved 5 brownstone markers with a CT-OPM grant; installed a new sign; researched brownstone carvers; cleaned headstones and footstones; photographed stones as they were cleaned or preserved; co-hosted a tour with the Chester Historical Society; raised money to preserve more brownstones.
2027 - sourcing epitaphs; undertaking work to preserve more brownstones.
Old Cemetery (c. 1804)
2024 - death and burial records research; photo inventory of 516 extant markers.
2025 - began mapping extant markers; removed dead and dying trees; conducted weekly community cleaning for 5 months.
2026 - hosted first "maintenance work party"; installed new sign; wrapping up mapping and condition assessment; wrapping up marker cleaning.
2027 - transcribing inscriptions and sourcing epitaphs; hoping to repair broken marble markers.
West End Cemetery (c. 1813)
2023 - photo inventory of 272 extant markers; assessed condition; updated plot address system; began cleaning and repair of markers.
2024 - researched death and burial records; identified and cleared unwanted vegetation; continued cleaning and repair of markers.
2025 - removed large dead and dying trees; Town rec'd CT-SHPO grant for subsurface survey to locate unmarked burials; transcribed inscriptions and sourced epitaphs; co-hosted tour with Chester Historical Society.
2026 - hosted first "maintenance work party"; installed new sign; collecting obituaries.
2027 - updating land survey; creating GIS; and continuing landscape restoration; installing new sign.
Laurel Hill Cemetery (c. 1866)
2023 - Urn Garden inventoried and cleaned.
2024 - VRHS Warriors in the Community cleaned 15 veterans' graves.
2025 - Town paid to restore 1929 entrance gateposts.
2026 - VRHS Warriors in the Community cleaned another 15 veterans' graves; installed a new sign; researching death and burial records.
2027 - assembling plot addresses; removing large dead and dying trees.
We also pursue our interest in researching the lives of people buried in Chester with no marker and writing brief biographies for those who would otherwise be lost to memory.
Reach out if you have any questions (or answers).
Christine Nelson, volunteer, currently serving as president
