Newtown Historian Conducts Guided Tour of Ridgefield Cemetery on Sunday

Newtown Historian Conducts Guided Tour of Early Grave Markers & Headstones at Ridgefield's Mapleshade Cemetery

The Town’s Graveyard Restoration Committee will be providing a guided tour of selected grave markers and headstones at the Mapleshade Cemetery on Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00 pm.  The tour will be guided by Dan Cruson, an expert on early life in Colonial Connecticut, including the evolution of local grave markers from the 1600’s through the 1800’s.  These select headstones are quite interesting, artful and rich in symbolism.  The tour is free and open to the public.  There is no rain date, in the case of inclement weather please bring an umbrella.

The Mapleshade complex has five cemeteries within the grounds; two are private and the other three are Town owned and maintained. The earliest grave markers date back to the Town’s beginnings.  Entrance to the Cemetery is at the junction of North Street and Maple Shade Road, not far from Copp’s Hill Plaza.

Mr. Cruson is a retired Joel Barlow High School teacher with a strong interest in Colonial Connecticut.  He is a past President of the Newtown Historical Society, a past President of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut, and is the Town Historian for Newtown.  He is the author of several books including: “The Pre-History of Fairfield County” and “Putnam’s Revolutionary War Encampment: The History and Archaeology of Putnam Memorial State Park”.

This community program is sponsored by the Ridgefield Graveyard Restoration Committee, the Ridgefield Historical Society, and Keeler Tavern Museum.  

For more information, please contact committee member, Hannah Barber, at 203-244-8408.

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Submitted by Newtown, CT

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