325 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
TV 
CITY CEMETERIES OF NEW BEDFORD, MASS. 
The fifteenth aiiunal report of the 
Cemetery Commissioners of New Bed- 
ford, i\Iass., shows a record of progres- 
sive work accomplished for the better- 
ment of the city cemeteries that speaks 
well for municipal management in that 
cil\’. The handsome illustrations accom- 
panying the report, some of which are 
shown here, present pictorial evidence 
of the physical results of careful man- 
agement and give some idea of the ap- 
pearance of the grounds. 
Fifteen years ago, the City Council 
took positive action in placing the 
control and management of the cem- 
eteries with a Board of Commission- 
ers, so that this department might re- 
ceive special improvement and em- 
bellishment in keeping with the pro- 
gress of future years, and the needs 
of tins ever-growing department. 
Rural and Pine Grove Cemeteries 
have been the centers of the nio-t 
marked improvement and emhellish- 
ment during the year, — the pond in 
Rural Cemetery being one of the spec- 
ial features of this work. The stone 
abutment, which enclosed it, has been 
removed, the banks have been graded 
to a gentle slope to the water edge 
and' an island of about fifty feet in 
length and twenty feet in width has 
been constructed in the center of the 
pond. On this island has been built 
a shelter house, which is reached by 
a bridge of rustic design from the 
west approach. The shelter house 
jjrovides a long needed requirement of 
this character, and is a simple rustic 
structure admirably in keeping w'ith 
its rural surroundings. 
Nearly 5,000 feet of avenues have 
been constructed and repaired. The 
general maintenance, together with 
the perpetual and annual care of lots, 
has keen productive of the most satis- 
factory results, as has been warmly 
expressed by visitors to this cemetery. 
The interments in these grounds have 
reached the largest number since the 
administration of the present super- 
intendent, Mr. Hurlbert E. Thomas. 
In Oak Grove Cemetery, the work 
of completing the last section of un- 
developed land has been nearly ac- 
complished. Several lots have al- 
ready been sold in this section, and 
in a short time there will be no more 
lots available. The interest therefore 
will be centered in the development 
of Pine Grove Cemetery by those re- 
siding in the north section of the city, 
to 'which the future efforts of the 
Board will be largely centered. 
Through the persistent efforts of the 
hoard, 69.2 acres of land adjacent to 
Pine Grove Cemetery have been pur- 
chased and made available for cemetery 
purposes. The rapid and substantial 
growth of the city has warranted this 
wise provision for the future. 
This new land must form the prin- 
SHELTER HOUSE. PINE GROVE CEMETERY, NEW BEDFORD, MASS, 
