Connecticut’s historic cemeteries will be the focus of a program at the Seymour Historical Society on Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m.
Old burial grounds aren’t simply final resting places for the dead. They are virtual museums, offering insight into the state’s early history.
In this program, Ruth Shapleigh Brown, of the Connecticut Gravestone Network, will focus on pre-Civil War cemeteries, gravestone design and the people who carved the stones, many of whom had easily recognizable styles.
She will discuss how the gravestones reflect the values and beliefs of the era when they were carved, and talk about the symbols that appear on grave markers and how they changed over the years. She will also describe her group’s extensive efforts to preserve these historic graveyards.
The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West Street, near the Trinity Episcopal Church. The program is free to Seymour Historical Society members and $5 for non-members. Seating is limited to 65 people, so arrive early to claim a seat. Doors open at 1 p.m.
For more information, contact psussman@snet.net, call 203 – 881-2156 or visit www.seymourhistoricalsociety.org.
