By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on 7/1/19, the Fairhaven Board of Public works discussed the possibility of digging for graves in Cooke Park. The board met with Karen Vilandry from the Hands Across the River Coalition and archeologist Craig Chartier from the Plymouth Archeological Discovery Project to discuss the possibility of excavating in Cooke Park to see if there are bodies buried there.
Ms. Vilandry said the ground penetrating radar was done at Cooke Park a year or so ago and the radar found around 60 anomalies in the ground that look like potential burial sites. She said they then contacted Mass. Historical Commission (MHC) to see what should be done next; and they said an archeological survey needed to be done and some of the places with anomalies needed to be excavated to see if they are graves. Ms. Vilandry said if there are bodies underneath the park the MHC will then declare Cooke Park a cemetery.
Mr. Chartier explained that they would need to do what is called “ground truthing.” He said that he would have to excavate a 39-inch square around one of the 60 anomalies and dig about one foot down or until they see something.
He explained that they would not dig anything up or take anything out of the ground, they would just dig until they see what is there, whether it is a grave shaft or not. They will not pull anything out of the ground.
Vice-Chairperson Robert Hobson explained that he has been on the board almost 10 years and they have been going back and forth on what to do with Cooke Park for all those years.
He said the board already banned events from happening at the park because if people are buried in it, there should be no functions there.
Mr. Hobson said that he did not understand why they keep coming back about the park.
He asked if the BPW is in charge of Cooke Park because it is a park or if the Historical Commission has some responsibility because of its historical significance. He the BPW and the HC both have responsibility for Fort Phoenix, therefore he would like to know if Cooke Park should be treated the same way.
Ms. Vilandry explained that she spoke to Dan Freitas from the Selectboard and he informed her that the BPW was in charge of Cooke Park.
“It can be cloudy,” Public Works Superintendent Vincent Furtado said.
He explained that because there is some history there, the Historical Commission could have some say or vote in what happens to the historical aspects of the park just like they do at Fort Phoenix.
Ms. Vilandry said that MHC suggested the town do the archeological study and the Selectboard said that the BPW needed to give permission for the study.
Ms. Vilandry also explained that Cooke Park used to be called Oxford Burial Hill and four bodies were found in the ground at the park in 1902 when they were putting up a memorial at the park.
Mr. Hobson asked if there was proof that those four bodies were found there.
Ms. Vilandry said there is documented proof.
Fairhaven Historical Commission member Gary Lavalette spoke up at the meeting saying that from town research the park used to be a cemetery and about 40-50 people were buried at Cooke Park, but were removed a very long time ago. Mr. Lavalette explained that the BPW has put a sewer treatment facility over there and a pond and found nothing when digging at the park.
Mr. Lavalette said his only question was what is the end game that Ms. Vilandry is looking for. He said there are no more organized events there already so why is it necessary to dig up the park.
BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton asked Mr. Lavalette why he would oppose digging up a few 40 inch by 40 inch holes. Mr. Wotton asked that as an Historical Commission member would he not want to know all the history within the park?
Mr. Lavalette explained that he does not think it is necessary to dig up the park because it is clear already that it was once a cemetery and the town is treating it as one anyway. He said that there are a lot of areas in Fairhaven that were once cemeteries.
He said he felt like digging up Cooke Park would leave the door open to start digging in other places in Fairhaven that used to be old cemeteries.
Mr. Wotton then asked Ms. Vilandry what her end game for Cooke Park is, such as what she would like to see happen there if there are graves found. Mr. Wotton also asked if the whole digging process was actually necessary suggesting that it would be nice to just put up a large memorial at Cooke Park for those who were once or are still buried there and continue not to allow events to be held at the park.
Mr. Wotton said as much as he is curious himself to know if there are graves in the park, he just does not think it is necessary. He suggested that they should simply assume there are graves there and designate the park as such rather than dig it up.
Mr. Hobson agreed with Mr. Wotton.
“I’m not against and I’m not for it,” Mr. Hobson said. “I just want to settle it.”
Ms. Vilandry stated that no skeletons or graves would be removed in the process. She said they just want to dig and see if there is anything there and then they will document what they find and submit it to the MHC. Ms. Vilandry said if something is found the MHC will then designate it as a burial site.
Board member Cameron Durant explained that regardless of how they vote on the issue they should ask town counsel who is in charge of Cooke Park before voting.
Mr. Furtado explained that the BPW certainly has authority over the park, but it is possible that the BPW might have joint authority and the Historical Commission could possibly have a say in the decision.
A motion was made to continue the discussion at the next BPW meeting after speaking with the town counsel. The motion passed four to one with Mr. Hobson making a motion that Cooke Park is not a cemetery. His motion was not seconded.
“I just want it over with,” Mr. Hobson said.
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