Tours of historic Bell Rock Cemetery are back!

Mark Linehan to lead four free tours in October

  The Malden Historical Society is delighted to announce the return of free walking tours of Malden’s Bell Rock Cemetery — led by local historian and Malden Historical Society Board of Directors member Mark Linehan. Located at 60 Medford St., Bell Rock Cemetery (first known as “Sandy Bank”) is Malden’s oldest burying ground, dating back to Malden’s establishment in 1649, and is the final resting place of many of Malden’s early settlers and prominent figures.

One of the oldest burying grounds in the country, Bell Rock offers a window into the rich history of Malden and early Massachusetts. As the nation commemorates the 250^th anniversary of American Independence, these tours highlight little-known aspects of Malden’s history. Tour participants will have the opportunity to discover:

• Graves of Revolutionary War soldiers, highlighting Malden’s contribution
• Notable residents, including founding families and early community leaders
• Architectural and artistic features of 17^th-century gravestones, Bell Rock Cemetery having some of the finest examples in the country
• 17^th– and 18^th-century burial practices and customs

Thanks to a Malden Community Connections grant from the City of Malden, the Malden Historical Society is able to offer four of these free, information-packed historical tours on the following dates and times:

• Saturday, October 4, 10:00–11:30 a.m.
• Sunday, October 5, 1:00–2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 18, 10:00–11:30 a.m.
• Sunday, October 19, 1:00–2:30 p.m.

Tours will take place rain or shine and last approximately 90 minutes. Due to the subject matter, these tours are most appropriate for adults and for children 10 and older. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water. For more information, contact li**********@***il.com or in**@*********************ty.org.

Mark Linehan is a Malden resident. For the last 12 years, he has worked as a tour guide on Boston’s historic Freedom Trail. He also has had the pleasure of working as Dr. Jason Ur’s research assistant on his work on historical New England burial grounds. For the past 18 years, Linehan has worked as a professional actor; he has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for the past 14 years.

Founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1887, the Malden Historical Society is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that is always looking for new members as well as volunteers to help with our collections, exhibits and other projects. Anyone with an interest in history who wants to learn more can attend one of our meetings or visit www.maldenhistoricalsociety.org.