Winter Lecture Series 2026: Colonial Burying Grounds as Archaeological Landscapes

Saturday, March 28
1:30pm
University of Southern Maine, Portland

It's our 16th lecture season! Join us for the last engaging talk in the series that has been packed with fascinating stories about New England history.

Archaeologist Jason Ur is using drones to show that colonial New England cemeteries are more than just rows of headstones. By looking at the entire landscape from above, he’s revealing a new way to understand how these historic sites were designed and used.

Our lectures are free, and donations are gratefully accepted! And our skilled bakers make gravestone cookies for you to nibble on while you listen. This is the third and last presentation of our Winter Lecture Series.

Email us easterncemetery@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Subterranean Celebrity: The ALD & Lydia C. Mystery

Lydia C. side of the stone, photo courtesy of J. Alexander

A few years ago, our conservation crew discovered a small marker poking through the ground in a newer section of the cemetery. The stone is similar to a type that was carved long before that section was in use.

On one side of the stone,  the initials“ALD” were carved at the top, so they believed it was a footstone.

On the other side of the stone, they found lettering that could be read by rotating it 90 degrees. This side appears to be a homemade headstone, the bottom of which is now missing. The first line is, “Here lyes ye b[ody],” the second line says, “of Mrs. Lydia C.,” and third line begins with a “D.” Could this be “Died?” “December?” or even Lydia’s last name? Above those 3 lines is an hourglass, a symbol for the passage of time. The hourglass is often found on stones carved in the 1700s.

We think that at some point, Lydia C.’s broken headstone was flipped, rotated, hand-etched, and repurposed as the footstone for someone with the initials ALD.

Recycled markers are uncommon, but we do have a few at Eastern Cemetery. This one is special for its age, the crudeness of the lettering, and the mysteries of who Lydia C. and ALD really were!

Thank you to our cemetery historian Ron Romano for photos and the write-up. Suggest your own subterranean celebrity! Just send an email—it doesn't take much (basic vitals, plot location, and or photo) to make a nice little story. An index of all of our Subterranean Celebrities is available.

Christina White speaks to a group of volunteers in 2007, photo by V. Turcott

20 Years of Spirits Alive

20 years ago, a small group of cemetery, gardening, and history enthusiasts gathered under the direction of Christina White to form Spirits Alive. We’ve come a long way, baby! Thank you to all of our volunteers over the years who have helped us protect, preserve, promote, and provide education about this sacred and historic outdoor museum, the Eastern Cemetery.

SA Swag

Guess what cemetery fan group has its own shirts, caps, playing cards, and tote bags? Spirits Alive does, that’s who! Visit us on Zazzle to view all of our products. Please know that proceeds go directly back to Spirits Alive to help us fund our work to keep the Eastern Cemetery cared for and to teach others about its wonders.

Support Eastern Cemetery

You can help Spirits Alive keep the Eastern Cemetery alive for generations to come. Through your support, you can help us, an ALL-VOLUNTEER organization, to continue to:

• Keep the gates open – encouraging the community to explore its open and safe green space

• Offer education about the cemetery and its residents to the public – through tours, lectures, and events

• Encourage and support the city in keeping the site clean and safe for visitors of all ages

• Preserve this incredible outdoor museum and sacred historic landscape

For 20 years, Spirits Alive, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, has been dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland, Maine’s historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including promotion and education.