The Friends of Sleepy Hollow

A public ceremony on Sunday, October 20th, 1:30 PM, will deservedly and respectfully honor Concord’s 19th Century Female Anti-Slavery Society with the dedication of our gifts of a flowering tree and raised brass plaque placed in the Cemetery. The Society, unique in its composition of Black and White members, was founded on October 18th, 1837.

Our guest speaker is Dr. Sandra Petrulionis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Pennsylvania State University, and author of many publications, including “To Set This World Right - The Antislavery Movement in Thoreau’s Concord.” Her presentation will focus on the development and role of the Town’s Anti-Slavery Society. The Thoreau Society honored her with its Distinguished Service Medal in 2020.

Jennifer Turner, Executive Director of Concord’s Robbins House, will share the participation of Black people in the Society’s work. She will connect the Society to the Bigelow Family, whose home was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and on whose burial plot the Memorials will be placed.

Alexander Hoar, whose ancestors’ final resting place is nearby to the Dedication site, will highlight the connection of the family to the Society.

Donations to support this historic, permanent tribute are respecfully received and can be made below.

Tax-deductible contributions will be personally acknowledged. In addition, those received no later than Monday, October 7th, will ensure that your name is listed in the Event Booklet.

Donations can also be made by check to:
The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Inc.
Post Office Box 313
Concord, Massachusetts 01742-0313

A site map for the Ceremony is posted below.

We look forward to extending our welcome to all attendees.

Recently, representative Board Directors gave their services as they have done in the past to clean selected grave markers in the Cemetery as a project, consistent with the Mission of The Friends to continuing the enhancement and beautification of the Cemetery, one of Concord's treasures.

The work was carried out under the skilled direction of Board member Jim Fannin and his wife Minxie, principals of their Restorative Consultants firm.

Left to right: Kevin Thomas Plodzik, John Gardella, Nancy Reilly, Sarah Kirkpatrick, Sue Leone, Paul Murphy, Beth Stone Railsback, Jim Fannin, Sylvia Sawyer, Minxie Fannin, Priscilla White Sturges.

On May 25th, 2023, the Concord Historical Commission awarded in a public ceremony a 2023 Landscape Preservation Award to The Friends. The Award recognizes the preservation, restoration, or maintenance of landscapes, grounds, and gardens related to historic sites. We extend sincere gratitude to the Historical Commission for this distinctive honor, as we continue our service to the Cemetery in this third decade.

Our Mission cannot be realized without the extensive support of our donors via our Annual Fall Appeal. Once again, we thank each of you heartily.

Joining Board President Kevin Thomas Plodzik at the Awards Ceremony were colleague Directors John Gardella, Nancy Reilly, and Jim Fannin. Also in attendance was Priscilla White Sturges.

The Board accepted the kind invitation from two local organizations to present information about The Friends to their members. These were the Concord Rotary Club and The Council on Aging. Two Directors of our Board, Priscilla White Sturges and Kevin Thomas Plodzik, shared, either via ZOOM or in a hybrid format, our history, accomplishments, and future plans, with audiences, and entertained questions. We extend full appreciation to the two hosting organizations for providing these opportunities.

The Concord Chamber of Commerce offered the opportunity to us to present a “Spotlight Video” featuring our organization. Cordial appreciation is extended to the Chamber. The video clip was filmed most recently on location in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, narrated by Kevin Thomas Plodzik, and shown on the Chamber’s website. Through the courtesy of the Managing Director of the Chamber, the Video is available to watch here.

The Friends to Host a Special Commemorative Event

2024 GRAVE MARKER CLEANING

2023 LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION AWARD RECOGNITION

SHARING OUR HISTORY, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND FUTURE PLANS