Spirits Alive Milestones
Since its founding in 2006, Spirits Alive has transformed Eastern Cemetery from an under-recognized landscape into one of Portland’s most active and engaging historic sites. What began as a small, volunteer-driven effort has continued, maintaining a sustained commitment to preservation, education, and public access.
This timeline highlights the key moments that have shaped that work—from early cleanup and conservation efforts to major restoration projects, public programming, and signature events. Together, these milestones tell the story of how a dedicated community has reclaimed, protected, and reinterpreted one of Portland’s most important historic landscapes.
None of this would have happened without the selfless donation of countless hours of each of our volunteers. Thank you!
2006
- Spirits Alive is founded by Christina White as a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to preserving and beautifying Eastern Cemetery.
- Gardening workdays begin (First Workday Article).
- First public lecture: “Death & Commemoration on the Frontier” by Joy M. Giguere (Lecture Series).
- First guided tour offered through Portland Trails’ “Urban Treks,” serving 56 attendees (Walking Tours).
2007
- Spirits Alive receives 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
- First Board of Directors is established (Board).
- “Beyond the Gates,” an art exhibit inspired by Eastern Cemetery, is co-sponsored with East End Arts (A few pix on Flickr).
- First gravestone conservation workshop held with Fred Oakley of the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) (Fred demo in front of the Dead House on Flickr).
- First Walk Among the Shadows!
2008
- Volunteer of the Year Award established; first recipient: Cissie Lindeman.
- Botanical tree markers installed as a result of a generous donor (Botanical marker for an ash tree).
- Gravestone transcription project formally begins (Stone Survey).
- Conservation work begins and includes repair of Charles Codman’s gravestone (Stone Conservation & Preservation).
- First annual meeting held for members, featuring a lecture by Bill Barry.
- Produce "Ghosts of the Revolution" with actors from the community and schools and a horse (Pix on Flickr)!
2009
- Monthly e-newsletter is launched (Enews Archive).
- First “Subterranean Celebrity” feature highlights Charles Codman.
2011
- Congress Street fence restoration is completed (Fence Repair).
- Spirits Alive begins sponsoring participation in Greater Portland Landmarks' (GPL) Portland History Docents program.
- Members attend stone conservation training in Norridgewock put on by Maine Old Cemetery Association.
- Organization presents an exhibit at the AGS annual conference at Colby College.
2012
- A comprehensive preservation Master Plan, developed with the Chicora Foundation and funded by Spirits Alive, is adopted by the City of Portland.
- Eastern Cemetery is named a “Place in Peril” by GPL.
2013
- Partnership with Maine Historical Society events commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Boxer and the Enterprise naval battle.
2014
- Restoration begins on the historic Victorian Dead House.
- Ron Romano begins presenting research on stone carver Bartlett Adams.
- Spirits Alive co-organizes the AGS Northeast New England Chapter meeting at the Maine Jewish Museum.
2015
- Organization logo is redesigned by Diane Brakeley.
- The first in a series of papers about Eastern Cemetery is published.
2016
- Spirits Alive celebrates its 10th anniversary!
- Walking tours program expands from weekends to four days a week.
2017
- Ron Romano publishes his second book, Portland's Historic Eastern Cemetery – A Field of Ancient Graves (2017).
- Yankee Magazine names our tour “One of the Five Best Cemetery Tours in New England.”
2018
- Eastern Cemetery’s 350th anniversary is commemorated with special events (350th Anniversary photos on Flickr).
- Spirits Alive receives the AGS Oakley Award (Article in Enews).
- Yankee Slate Cutting begins carving slate section markers (E/D Section Marker on Flickr).
- Walking tours program’s seasonal attendance exceeds 1,000 for the first time.
2019
- Conservation crew surpasses 500 stones “touched” (cleaned, reset, and/or repaired).
- Walking tours program expands to seven days a week (becoming the only cemetery in the state offering daily tours).
2020
- A 12-stop virtual tour is launched.
- “Gate Angels” program is created to ensure regular public access during the city's reduced ability during and after the pandemic.
- Cemetery back slope landscape restoration begins with new plantings (Signage for the project on Flickr).
2021
- Graveside ceremony honoring Dr. John Perkins Briggs (d. 1837) a Surgeon in the War of 1812 (covered by local media and leading to Ron's appearance on PBS TV and on the radio in Plattsburgh, NY).
2023
- Coffee By Design launches a coffee series honoring Eastern Cemetery notables, beginning with Alice Greele.
- Conservation crew surpasses 750 stones “touched.”
2025
- Project to catalogue status of fenced lots inside the gates completed.
2026
- Spirits Alive celebrates 20 years!