Highland Cemetery Expands with New Three-Acre Section-November 10, 1981

Norwood Officials Develop $185,000 Expansion to Provide 3,200 New Graves and Extend Municipal Burial Capacity

NORWOOD — Local officials are taking proactive measures to ensure that municipal burial space remains available at Highland Cemetery for years to come. Joseph M. Welch, assistant superintendent of public works, conservatively predicts that cemetery lots will remain available for purchase for at least another 10 to 12 years thanks to ongoing expansion efforts.

At Highland, a new three-acre section initiated four years ago has been developed at an estimated cost of $185,000. Sales in the new parcel could open by the spring, offering a total capacity of 3,200 graves. According to Welch, the majority of the new area will feature companion two-grave lots, with the largest plots capped at six graves to avoid the land-lock issues created by oversized family plots in the past.

Vacant Family Plots, Pre-Need Policies, and Exceptional Waivers

The policy restricting plot sizes stems from decades of experience with older sections where massive family plots now sit largely vacant. Welch noted instances of an old 10-grave lot where only three burials have occurred since 1935, another where 17 of 20 graves have remained empty since before 1900, and a plot unused since 1885. Because locating heirs is virtually impossible, state law ties town officials’ hands regarding reclaiming unsold space. Of Highland’s approximately 250 annual burials, only about 10 occur in these older, high-capacity sections.

To prevent space from being prematurely locked up, Norwood instituted a prohibition against “pre-need” or advance sales. This policy protects residents who cannot afford immediate plot purchases while extending the working life of the cemetery:

• Current Capacity: The 101-year-old cemetery spans 34-plus developed acres with a total capacity of 25,800 graves.
• Burial Stats: Over 14,000 burials have taken place, leaving roughly 300 unsold graves in established sections.
• Case-by-Case Waivers: Selectmen occasionally grant policy waivers for compassionate exceptions, such as approving an advance purchase for grandparents grieving a teenage grandson killed in an automobile accident so they may eventually be buried alongside him.

Historic Topography and Architectural Heritage

Highland Cemetery General Foreman Philip J. McManus described the site as “one of the best kept cemeteries” in the region, offering affordable single-grave lots for $127.50 (including perpetual care). Perched near Norwood’s highest elevation near the Bellevue Avenue water tanks, the grounds offer sweeping views toward Westwood from the Winter Street entrance.

The cemetery reflects Norwood’s rich cultural and religious tapestry across its distinct sections:

• Yankee & Historic Sections: Featuring larger family plots, spacious avenues like Highland, Groveland, and Woodward, and the cemetery’s only two mausoleums.
• Denominational Avenues: Sections closer to Winter Street with avenues named after St. Cecilia, St. Andrew, and St. Anne for Catholic burials, alongside Mt. Lebanon Walk and Mt. Sinai Walk in the Jewish section.
• Nonsectarian Facilities: All newer sections are nonsectarian, and all faiths are welcomed to use the neo-Gothic Chapel of St. Gabriel the Archangel for committal services, a local architectural treasure donated by the Day family.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger