Grants now available for historic cemeteries

Applications for grants up to $50,000 are now being accepted for capital projects on historic cemeteries. A cemetery with five graves with at least one 50 years old or older qualifies as a “historic cemetery.”

“It’s certainly not cut and dry,” said Julianne Patterson with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservations of the eligible projects.

The biggest stipulation is the grant money be for capital projects, not maintenance. Landscape restoration projects qualify, but not regular yard care; monument repair would qualify, but not cleaning.

Patterson said the program came about due to the rea...