HARTFORD’S ANCIENT BURYING GROUND CEMETERY TOURS

NERGC is pleased to announce that Ruth Shapleigh Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network, has generously offered to lead early NERGC attendees on two informal guided tours of Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground!

This venerable cemetery is the oldest landmark left in Hartford. It is the center of where the first settlers gathered to plan their community, build their church and bury their dead. A connection with practically all colonial families that lived in or came to Connecticut can be found in the history of this oldest burial ground.

Ruth’s tour will acquaint you with some highlights of Hartford’s history, the people and their genealogies as well as introducing some of the colonial stone carvers. If you are wondering why there are no gravestones for people who died in 1632, you need to join one of the tours!

The first tour will be on Wednesday, April 25 at 4:30 P.M., just after the Librarian’s Day closes, the second on Thursday, April 26 at 10:00 A.M. The Cemetery is located just a couple of blocks from the Convention Center at the corner of Gold and Main Streets. Tours will gather at the front gate of the cemetery near the statue of Rev. Stone.

Maps and directions will be available at the Hospitality table Wednesday (at the Marriott) and Thursday (at the Convention Center).

Persons interested in these tours should email Ruth at shapbrown@cox.net (please insert NERGC Cem. Tour on the subject line) indicating which tour they wish to join. Ruth’s knowledge and expertise should not be missed.

For more information about the Ancient Burying Ground (Gold Street and Main Street) see www.theancientburyingground.org