Nantucket Cemetery Commission Approves Juneteenth Dedication Program, Monument Placement

NANTUCKET -- June 10, 2026, Nantucket Cemetery Commission approved a Juneteenth dedication program and monument placement for the Historic Colored Cemetery at its June 10 meeting. The commission voted unanimously to approve a printed program for the June 19 ceremony honoring Absalom Boston, including a historical blurb noting that in 1851 the town's proprietors voted to allow Black residents to fence one acre as a burying place, and that those interred include "people of African heritage, Cape Verdeans, Wampanoags, Pacific Islanders, and a seaman from India." A second unanimous vote placed the new monument facing west, near the restored grave of Phoebe M. Boston. The commission also received word that monument restoration work has begun at New North Cemetery, the last of five town cemeteries in the project, and that approximately 120 new lots have been laid out at Polpis Cemetery, significant because the town currently has no municipal cemetery space available for full burials. A newly contracted mowing firm has fallen at least a week behind its required cycle across all town properties, with DPW representative Charlie saying crews plan to mow the Historic Colored Cemetery by June 18 ahead of the ceremony.