Planting Trees at Bell Rock Burial Grounds on the Sandy Bank of the Malden River

Chris Rosa, Malden’s Cemetery Director and Tree Warden, demonstrates the right way to plant the right trees in the right place!

Chris Rosa, Malden’s Cemetery Director and Tree Warden, adding some magic to the tree planting.

It was perfect planting weather on May 10th at Bell Rock Burial Ground! Chris planted two trees with some help from the participants: a Red Oak and an American Elm Hybrid named Jefferson. The Elm hybrid has resistance to the Dutch Elm Disease that wiped out our American Elm poplulation in the 1960’s -1970’s. These heritage trees were thriving in this same area 250 years ago.

From Weir Funeral Home website: Bell Rock Burial Ground is Malden's oldest cemetery. It is comprised of 3.3 Acres, and is first recorded in an agreement between the residents of Malden, (then known as Mystic Side) and the townsmen of Charlestown, in 1648. Most of the earliest burials are unmarked, and only in the county records of the time are any indication of the deaths that had occurred. The earliest marked grave discovered is that of Alice Brackenbury, who passed on Dec 28, 1670. There are 51 recorded deaths prior to Ms. Brackenbury. Although it cannot be confirmed who may have been buried there, it is likely that most of those listed in county records would have been buried there. During that time it was known as "Sandy Bank" After 1832, with the establishment of the new burial ground on Salem Street, this cemetery became commonly known as the "Old Burial Ground" It wasn't until 1882 the cemetery became known as Bell Rock Cemetery, in reference to the early history of Malden. 

A plaque honors soldiers of the American

Revolution, Many of the names listed here,

are names common to the area even today

Mr. Willis Rose, Sr. unveiling of the 2024 plaque honoring the Black Soldiers of the American Revolutionary War. Made possible by Malden’s Public Librarian, Dora St. Martin. PC: Chris Rosa, Cemetery Director

Malden has grown and evolved around the Old Burial ground. . The Annual Reading of Malden's Town Instructions dated May 27, 1776, and the Dedication of the Memorial to the Black Soldiers of the American Revolutionary War. Recorded June 28, 2024, on location at Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden.

Planting trees correctly throughout Malden is an intentional process. Right Tree; Right Place; Right way!