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Village Cemetery Archway

Donations Cheerfully Accepted!
Posted on: August 5, 2021 - 11:09am
drawing of Gray Corner by Warren Gilbert, 1889

Gray Village Cemetery’s northeast corner was once graced by a wooden archway flanked by a pair of open walkways as shown in this drawing done by Warren Gilbert in 1889. Gray Historical Society volunteers believe the structure was installed in the late 1800s, perhaps with Federal reimbursement funds given to the Town of Gray soon after the Civil War. The entire structure was apparently removed sometime in the early 1900s, though little is known and recorded concerning its eventual demise.

With the help of Gray residents, Gray Cemetery Association and the Gray Historical Society now hope to give a nod to Gray Village history by creating an archway of similar style very near to the original location. Two bits of evidence provide a glimpse of this past structure: a Warren Gilbert sketch of Gray Corner from Greenleaf Street in 1889 and a scale model of Gray Village built by Herb Snyder now on display at the GHS museum. Dick Skilling has designed an arched central gateway flanked by two smaller open walkthroughs for foot traffic. The vision includes long-lasting pressure-treated lumber posts combined with low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable AZEK cladding and elements.

In-kind donations of materials and labor are anticipated from:

  • Dick Skillings, Steve Cobb, Galen Morrison [construction labor]
  • Bruns Brothers [wrought iron gates]
  • Gray Public Works Department [excavation & placement]

Gray Cemetery Association seeks the support of Gray residents for the balance of project costs estimated to be about $7,500* including material and signage.

Donations gratefully accepted. Checks may be made payable to the

Gray Cemetery Association
c/o Gray Historical Society
PO Box 544, Gray ME 04039.

Additional details and project progress notes will be published on the Gray Historical Society website as they become available.​

*Update 4 August 2021: Thus far, we have received $5495 in community support donations. We increased our original goal of $6,500 to $7,500 to cover the cost of rental for a lift during the final stages of construction. Materials are on order to begin the project! 

Thank you for your support.