Cemeteries

About

The operation of the Salem Cemeteries is directly supervised by the Municipal Services Department, through its Public Works Division, under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen.

Responsibilities

All inquiries concerning the purchase of graves, burials, maintenance, and cemetery operations, should be directed to the Parks and Properties Section of Public Works or the main office of the Municipal Services Department during office hours.

Cemeteries in Salem

View a list of cemeteries located in Salem. Please note that Pine Grove Cemetery and Mt. Pleasant Cemetery are the only two active burying grounds in town.

Rules & Regulations

The adoption and enforcement of the rules and regulations are to secure peace and good order within the cemetery, to respect the memory of those interred, and to preserve the beauty of the grounds. All persons are expected to comply with and respect these rules which can be amended or altered by the Board of Selectmen as circumstances may require.

While the Town of Salem fully respects that the grieving process is personal in nature, in the interest of maintenance, aesthetics, and the safety of all, any items on or around lots that impede proper maintenance of the cemetery grounds and are potential hazards to all cemetery users will be removed.

Plantings

Planting of trees and shrubs is strictly prohibited, and the Public Works Division reserves the right to remove those found planted after the date of adoption or any amendment thereof of these rules and regulations without prior notification.

Plantings are limited to annual plants/flowers, or ornamental perennials placed in an area in front of a monument that is not more than twelve inches deep by the width of the monument. All perennials should be cut back and cleaned up prior to the end of the growing season and/or will be removed. The Town of Salem will not be responsible for damage or care for such flowers or plants. Sections 9 - 12, and cremation-only sections, will be monitored closely for any non-conformity.

Flowers

Funeral flowers, including flowers left or placed at the cemetery at other times, will be removed by Public Works when they become withered.

Decorations

Lot owners are expected to remove all seasonal decorations promptly starting ten days after a holiday or special occasion and may be subject to removal if they become unsightly

before the ten days are up. Anything deemed unsafe, offensive, controversial, political, or that compromises the enjoyment of peace and visitation, as determined by Public Works, may be removed immediately. Disputes in this regard will be taken up and mediated through the Municipal Services Director who may bring forth to the Board of Selectmen if they so choose.

Placement or construction on or around lots of items such as, but not necessarily limited to the following, are strictly prohibited:

• Glass or ceramic vases, boxes, figurines, picture frames, bottles, lanterns¨ Windmills, windsocks, chimes, and noise-making devices
• Shepherds hooks or plant hangers
• Fencing of wood, brick, iron, wire, hedge, or other material
• Paths of brick, stone, gravel, or similar material.

Headstones

All headstones shall be made of good quality, structurally sound material, preferably granite, hard marble, or approved equal stone.  No monument shall be permitted to be erected or set in the cemeteries without a good and sufficient foundation as installed by the monument company.