HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-12 05-334 ORDER[tem Ro05 34
Date: October 12, 2005
item/Subject Accepting Gift of a Monument Identifying the "Old Cemetery Park" at the Corner
of Buck Street and West Broadway
Responsible Department Community and Economic Development
Commentary:
The Commission on Cultural Development's mission is W promote the development of Bangor as a
regional arts center that nurtures the amstic and cultural expression of its diverse peoples, as pravided in
Chapter 95, Cultural Development The Commission is charged to review proposed public an or
monuments in accordance with the Public Art & Monuments Policy and to make a recommendation on
accepting and lotting such Items to the Bangor Ory Council, which has the sole authority m adapt,
rejeQ or revise any such recommendation.
The Cemetery Angels, a local volunteer group, has documented that the City park on the comer of Burk
Street and West Broadway was the first Catholic cemetery in Bangor. Headstones and perhaps remains
were relocated to what is now me Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery on Ohio Street leaving the original
cemetery unmarked and its history and that of those bused there undocumented. The Cemetery Angels
propose to place a bronce plaque mounted on a natural alone in the park, at their own expense. The
location of the monument, as well as its style and the wording an the plaque have been reviewed by the
Commission for Cultural Development, which recommends that the ❑ty Council approve acceptance of
this gift. _ ,
Recommend approval
Associated Information: 'B `.r,., d.%isc/a
Budget Approval:
x Passage
_ First Reading
Referral
Department Head
CM Manager
Finance Director
ME;
Page _ of
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Assilloed to Cwvcilor Cvty ck
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) ORDER, Accepting Gift of a Monument Identifying the "Old
Cemetery Parka at the Corner of Buck Street and West Broadway
WHEREAS, The Commission on Cultural Development's mission is to promote the development
of Bangor as a regional arts canter that nurtures the artistic and cultural etpression
of its diverse peoples, as provided in Chapter 95, Cultural Development; and
WHEREAS, the Commission Is authorized to real proposals in accordance with the Public Art
& Monuments Policy and to recommend acceptance and location of proposed art
and monuments to the Bangor Cry Council;. and
WHEREAS, The Bangor Cry Council shall have the sole authority to adopt, reject, or revise any
such recommendation; and
WHEREAS, a local volunteer group called the Cemetery Angels has documented that the city
park located at the comer of Buck Street and West Broadway was the first Catholic
cemetery in Bangor, and its creation in 1836 contrbuted in part to the permanent
establishment of a significant Irish Catholic settlement in the community; and
WHEREAS, the Irish settlers were important to Bangor's development, both In terms of their
numbers and participation in the City's trades and workforce; and
WHEREAS, stones from this cemetery, and perhaps remains, were later moved to Mt. Pleasant
Cemetery on Ohio St., leaving no trace of the park's original role as a cemetery;
and
WHEREAS, the Cemetery Angels propose to provide and install, at then expense, a monument
that will require no ongoing maintenance consisting of a bronze plaque mounted on
a natural granite scone;
NOW, (HEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the Ory Council of the City of Bangor that
The Cemetery Angels' grit of a monument to be placed In the park M the corner of Buck Street
and Broadway is hereby accepted.
IN C= MMCIL
October 12. 2005
l tion Made and Seconded
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05 334
May 5, 2005
To: Sally Bales
Prom: John Fmwley
Subject: Old Cemetery Park
As a follow-up to ourmeeang flus past Morality, youwill find effectual four
revised copies of docmnents pertaining to the placement of a monument in the Buck
Street- West Broadway park
Exhibit'D', showing the revised location of the proposed monument; I will be happy
0 meet with Steve Mbble when we are ready to set the stone to establish the praise
spot in the field, if so desired.
Exhibit'E', revised to show the new location ofthe monument
Exhibit `F', showing the proposed `Old Cemetery Park' title on the proposed plaque
text
Exhibit'G', an elevation sketch of the proposed stone, inadvertently omi from our
fila samonsom; although rot shown on the sketch, we acknowledge Steve's
recommendation that the stove be embedded to In of its height.
Thank you and the Committee for their coaavd mfion
05 334
PROPOSED HISTORICAL PLAQUE
AND NAMQt'G OF EXISTING PARK
AT
WEST BROADWAY AND BUCK STREET
L Introsbcdon
It's probably safe to say that hardly more then a score of local citizens are aware of tare fact
that the small park located betweam Buck anal Lincoln Streets on the southeast aide. of West
Broadway, including thaz portion of West Broadway between the two streets, was at one time a
cemetery. But that is understandable, since the area has not been used as a burial ground for 150
years. It was, in fact, the first Catholic cemetery in Bangor, and its creation in 1836 contributed in
part to the permanent establishment of a significant Irish Catholic settlement in the community.
H The Proposed Proiect
A local group of volunteers, called the Cemetery Angels, undertake various projects of
beautification and monument repair and restoration at ML Pleasant Catholic Cemaery on Ohio
Street, which is the modemday predecessorm the fustcemerery mmtioved above. Whileupdating
hmial records in the oldest section of Mt. Pleasant, they discovered that the dates ma some of the
stoves predated the 1855 establishment of Mt. Pleasant' it was concluded then those stones, and
perhaps the rematre, had been relocated Som the original cemetery an Bock Street, where no trace
of the Original cemetery remains.
The'Aagels' thought it coo rid be appropriate to recognize this lost piece of history by
placing a suitable marker in the park, not only as a hd ame to the first siginficant ethnic group that
settled in Bangm, bud also as a tribute to all immigranua who chose Bangor as thein place of refuge
during those hand times ofthe fust halfofthe 190 earn". With the City's perwssion, the'Mgels'
propose to provide and install, at their mpaue (estimated at $1,200), a become plaque mounted on
a natural grapite or quartzite stone, as hereinafter described and detailed.
HL A Bit of Irish History
Bangor has a rich cultural history, due is large pan m the contributions Of the diverse ethvie
groups then settled here during the first half of the nineteenth century, as she was blossoming into
whatwouidave daybecomeone of rhe mom promivant communities of the Nmflba k Amoogthe
fust m corse were the antrepmreme, tradesman, end business peoplq who saw an opportunity to
capigEu on the natural recourses of the area. MosdyofEngldshstoek,manypabapsdasirngto
separate themselves from the molutionay, struggle between the early colonies and thew British
homeland, they formed a local government, and they built mads, buildings, wbarfs, and other
mfiaswitum. And theybuilt smres, mills, and foundries, and established trade and service with the
rest of the century and the word.
But the growing prosperity also automated people of other means and cultures in the first
darty years of the century. Many were dish who had fled their homeland to escape religious
persecution and the recrossing poverty that was gripping Ireland after the and of the Napoleonic
wars. Initially, they cane in small numbers, migrating W from the colonies or down from Canada
They were generaltypo err, butnot impoverished, and many had valuable trade skills which enubled
them to quietly fit into, and contribute to the needs of me growing community.
05 334
But one thing that they didn't have, which was a major Part of their life in heland, was a
Catholic parish; during those early years, the reused Catholic shadon was onbehan bland in Old
Town. Thew manners were not goat enough to justify the establishment of a Catholic parish in
Bangor. But that would change in 1832,
To the summer of 09 year, cholera struck tothe larger Catholic pJuttos of eastern Canadian
cines, where living conditions were so poor that widespread deaths were assured. Many gathered
that few belongings, and headed across the border into Maine. They snuggled down the roads
leading to Bangor, and were in a pitiful "a when they arrived - unwelcome by the locals who
feared thatmrybrough[thefevawim them Natwo-weekpeaodm Augsst,800Mri crossedthe
new covered bridge across the river. Bangor's population was suddenly 20 % Irish. Iroulusfy no
cholera was repottd in any Maine city during that deadly summer of 18321.
The influx of Irish into Maine did not go ummticed by Benedict I. Fenwick, the Bishop of
Heston; me need fm a Catholic parish in Burger, including a church and a cauetery, was suddenly
justified. The Bishop acquired land on Court Soret, where St Michael's Church was completed in
the winter of 1836. And in May of 1836, he purcbesed eight lots on Back Shat Eom Witham
Magan and John Qua lin for the sum of $400.2 Totaling about an acre, it would fulfill the burial
needs ofthe new Catholic community for the next twentyyeareIt became the rneongplace ofthose
wbosuecumbdmthehardlifeint Mi ghemsofHancock Street,Devil's HulfAcreou Front
Street, and Paddy's Hollow between Second and Haird Street.
Butafirthamjaamgeinth hl po WaionofBangorwasbmughtaboutbyma Gear
Famine of 1845-50 in Ireland, where a potato blight led to the death of one million people by
sur-waian or £aver, and the famed emigration of a million and one-half more. Most emigrated to
eastern Canada, and many moved south into Maine. Unlike the earlier Immigration, they were a
sorry lot, sick and poor, and rot a welcome sight In the local population. Many smyd, Dough,
filling the gleams, the anus house, St Michael's Church, and ultimately the Buck Street cemetery
to overflowing; mus, the rvnswcrion of the large St. John's Church was started in 1855, and Mt.
Pleasant Cemetery(then called Birch Hill) was started in the same year.
What happened W the Buck Street cemetery7 hs early disposition u not (mown, although the
Eaton& Crosby Plan of Bangor dated 1962 ref to it as'The Old Catholic Cemetay'.3 It remained
as an open, mteMed fled =61 the land was deeddm the City of Bangor by the Catholic Diocese
1 San hard rimes, hard men, by James H. Mundy, p. 10-15.
2 Deed recorded W PR of D, Vol. 28, page 224 02YJnbit `A').
3 Sea nownd portion of the Plan (Exhfut'B').
05 334
of Portland m 1944 4 It has been said that some of the land was used for Victory Gardens during
World War IC allowing people who did not own sufficient land of their own to establish vegetable
gardens to help in the war effort. The following year, the City contracted the remaining fi k of
West Broadway between Buck and Lincoln Street; across die northerly Portion of the former
cemetery. The remainder was landscaped into the present rumored park.
W. BetaM of the Proposed Momamm[
The following details are attached to assist the Committee in its review to determine the
appropriateness of the proposed monument
I. A photograph of the existing park, looking northeast from the intersection ofBuck Sheet
and We dBmadway (Exhibit'D'). The proposed location ofNe mmurnem is marked by atlagged
stake.
2. A plan drawing of the existing park, sbowing the proposed location of the monument
(Bxhibit'E').
3. A copy of the Proposed text of the bronze plaque (Exhibit'F'); the actual plaque would
measure 12"W x 15'Td. The applicant feels thaz Ns umamed Park should have an identifying name,
and suggests'Remembmnce Park' as a genual tribute to all early settlers who contributed to the
social character of the community.
4. A Amoh showing the approximate size and character of the monument (Exhibit'G'); the
exact demilcamot be determined until an appropriate stone is located and prepared...
V Addressinm the Guidelines for Public Monureeh
Section 3 of the Guidelines pertains to public monuments, and each of the subsections will
he addressed as it pertains to this Proposal, as follows:
3.l The mmmmeot intends ro relaze the history of the site, specifically the period of the first
balfofthe 196 county, when Bongoes population growth was Predominantly through imnigmion,
primarily from western Earopeam countries, resulting in the establislunmt of etludc neighborhoods
and cultures within the community.
3.2 The proposed monument rebates to one ethnic group, the hish, mostly Catholic, who
were sttemptingto establish their -religion and culture in the area; the estabhsWnent of the cemetery
was me facet of that attempt.
3.3 Not applicable; the monumsm does not horror an individual.
3.4 While this site pertains to the establishment of a particular culme, the proposed
language of the plaque intends to humor all early immigrants.
3.5 The existing park is nstmnlly landscaped with trees and shrubs; the bench is the only
man-made object Consequently, amuual stow, as opposed to a sculptured edifice, is considered
most appropriate as an mobhusive'mouming board' for this historical message.
3.6 This subject pertains mlym this site, and is mtporhxyed elsewhere in apublic place.
VL I.ev 1 ofR ired Ishantenance
Itis felt Natvirmallym maivteasnce ofdnemommimt will becequhed, as evidmeedby the
4 Deed recorded in PR of D, Vol. 1205, page 30 (Exhibit'C').
05 334
history of many other similar monurnents in Bangor. Similar stone and plaques east on the
Hannibal Hamlin Mall, Kenduskesg Plaza, City Halt, Fleet Bank, and the Hammond Street
Congegational Church,to mentionafew; mNeeapaienceofNewritermhise mencewhNNe
City ova thepast 45 years, no randatenanechas been required on Nose similar monuments. In Otis
respect, Ne applicant would request that ammrdenance endowment not be regmmd.
"L Estimated Cost and Construction Schedule
The estimated cost of the project is as follows:
Bron&e Tablet $ 700
Slone prepazationandmouvting 350
Setting stone, landscaping 115
Total $1200
The applican los the necessary foods for Ne project.
h is hoped Nat Ne project can be completed by the and of September.
Respectfully submitted,
John T. Frawley,
Applicant's Representative
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O.WUMENT DETAIL5
_STOWE TO BE GRANITE OR QVARTZf'rS BOULDER, BEDDED )Q_
..5.''MrN., SCLEGT. (RAVG4. @A:D.'
05 3
OLD CEMETERY PARK
In April of 1836, Benedict J. Fenwick, the
Roman Catholic Bishop of Boston, purchased
this parcel of land, whereon he established the
first Catholic cemetery in Bangor. It served the
needs of the growing Catholic community,
mostly Irish immigrants, until Mt. Pleasant
Cemetery was developed in 1854, after which it
was abandoned. In July of 1544 the land was
conveyed to the City of Bangor to permit the
completion of West Broadway.
This park is dedicated to the memory of
those early settlers who were buried here, and
to all who helped to shape the heart and soul of
early Bangor.
Lest they be forgotten...
Dedicated May 2005
EXH.IBIL.'F' _—