Work Session May 30th Warwick Senior Center

Attending: Evelyn Wheeler, Pegee Malcolm, Tom Podgurski, Sally Small, Bruce MacGunigle, Judy Fardig, Rosemarie Mello, Carolyn Crist-Schwab.

Told of Edna’s three “situations” in her area. One Indian Burial Ground getting bigger in North Smithfield, found another one in Glocester, and found stones stacked in Foster to let a tractor thru to the back yard.

Announced the donation we received from RI Genealogical Society for $300 to print “the book”. Book is at the printer now.
Will ask everyone to distribute to their county. If help is needed Pegee and Evelyn will help.

Evelyn talked to RSVP (senior volunteers) in Cranston and they want to work with us for their seniors to keep busy. The senior center is right next to Cranston City Hall, so research would be one of the positions. They will have a table at the Senior Expo at the Mall in the fall and will share it with us. Start thinking.They also want someone on the Channel 13 show from Johnston, Cranston or Warwick. Taping is done in Johnston. Need an article for their newsletter by mid June. Rosemarie Mello volunteered.

DOT waives landfill fees during the spring Earth Day cleanups. You have to have your own dumpsters and haulers but they waive the fees. Keep in mind for next April thru mid June.

Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is co-operating with us also for not only Earth Day time but anytime we have a clean up. They have tools to borrow, Rakes, brooms, shovels, hedge trimmers, garden supplies, litter pick up tools, (grabbers) and Glad ForceFlex bags.She will also arrange for debris pick up. Let me know if you need anything. This is for Glocester, Smithfield, Lincoln, Cumberland, North Smithfield, Burrillville, and Woonsocket.

Gov Sundlin is trying to get RI History taught in the schools. Would like to work with him about the Historical Cemeteries.Let Evelyn know if you have any thoughts. Rosemarie is writing a letter for that also, just to tell him what we are.

Went over cemetery laws that have been given to the State Rep for the legislative lawyer to look over.

Have written letters to all Historical Society’s asking for volunteers to transcribe, document, cross reference etc. Judy and Rosemarie immediately got out their stamps for the envelopes. Thank you so much.

Bob Butler had drafted a letter to go to all cities and towns to get cooperation with the DPW for debris pick up, posting new signs, etc. Evelyn would like to know the towns that are very cooperative now so we don’t send to them.

When “the book” is printed, extra sheets are made of the ordinances and cemetery locations to go to the Police Depts with a cover letter asking them to be extra watchful of vandalism.


The commission is on the list at the DMV for community service and also at State Internship program.

There was a suggestion made to make the 25 foot buffer to 50 ft. Something to think about.

Everyone should call the Town Halls and see who is the contact person that gets calls about Historical Cemeteries. If you already know who, great, bring names to June meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Wheeler