PARK AND C EM ET ER Y. 
m 
PROMOTING PERPETUAL CARE AND BETTER SERVICE 
Superintendent George E. Lane, of 
Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Mass., 
has been doing some very successful 
promotion of" the perpetual care idea 
in the local press and by direct let- 
ters to lot owners. 
Realizing the strong impression 
made by contrasting pictures of neg- 
lected and well-kept lots, a number 
of striking views of this nature were 
taken and shown in an interesting 
and well-written article about the 
cemetery, its management, and care. 
By this article and circular letters 
sent out at the proper time to re- 
inforce it, over two hundred old lots 
were placed under perpetual care in 
1909, and substantial returns kept up 
through 1910. Strong efforts are be- 
ing made by the board of commis- 
sioners to bring about an improved 
appearance in the ground, which has 
a peculiarly advantageous location, with 
natural beauty that makes it one 
of the best of modern cemeteries. At- 
tention has been directed to many 
lots which are not properly kept by 
their owners, and this has brought 
the result sought, in many cases. A 
large number which present an un- 
sightly appearance with tall grass 
and weeds growing where they 
should be neatly covered with closely 
cut grass, were photographed and 
shown in contrast to the well-kept 
lots under perpetual care. 
In passing along the avenues and 
paths of the cemetery there is a vast 
difference in the general appearance 
of the newer portions, in which are 
placed all of the perpetual care lots 
which have been sold in recent years, 
and the parts which hold some of 
both kinds. It is with a degree of 
satisfaction that the visitor travels 
the paths where all the grass is kept 
closely cut and the plants and flow- 
ers kept watered, and he receives a 
jar when he sees one neatly kept 
lot and then one adjacent to it with 
weeds and tall grass growing so high 
in some instances as to hide the 
stone. 
Following out the idea which has 
been a general movement on the 
part of municipal and corporation 
cemeteries of larger proportions to- 
ward a reorganization, there have 
been many changes made at Pjne 
Grove in conducting the business 
and managing the affairs of the cem- 
etery in the last two years. One of 
the most important of these is the 
transformation which has taken place 
in the building at the entrance, for- 
merly occupied as an office and 
dwelling. The interior has been en- 
tirely remodeled, and where there 
was but one room available which 
was used as offlce, reception room 
and commissioners’ room, there are 
now three separate rooms devoted to 
ofiice use on the first floor. The 
front office is used for the general 
business of the cemetery, and in this 
there is a fireproof vault for the 
holding of the records; then there 
is the superintendent’s office and the 
board of commissioners’ rooms, where 
the monthly meetings are held; the 
third room is used as a waiting room. 
New and up-to-date furniture and 
office equipment have been installed 
and there is a card indexing system 
which has proved its value in carry- 
ing on the office work. The upstairs 
portion of the building has been fit- 
ted with toilet and retiring rooms, 
completing first-class facilities for 
the proper accommodation of visit- 
ors. 
The work has been arranged so 
that the men are kept busy the year 
round without so much of the lack 
of employment during the winter and 
the rush when spring opens as char- 
acterized the work a long time. For 
the past two years interments have 
been made tbe year round. 
CONTRASTING VIEIWS IN PINE GROVE CEMETERY, LYNN, MASS., SHOWING LOTS WITHOUT CARE 
AND THOSE UNDER PERPETUAL CARE. 
