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Subject: [MAINE] Hatch-Littlefield Cemetery, Kennebunk, Maine
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:18:22 -0400 (EDT)

I just found this online, on the Maine Turnpike Association website:

Does anyone here belong to this line of people? I believe I do, but I
don't have any descendent information. My mother is a Hatch. I haven't
yet tied her line to this one, but, the cemetery also is believed to
contain a Littlefield, which was a family that has been previously tied to
my mother's line, in Harmony, Maine (A descendent of Eliakim Hatch, of
Wells, Maine).

Here is some text from the online MTA (Maine Turnpike Authority) website,
talking about the cemetery:

(Does anyone have this family in their tree???)

-David Reed
Bangor, Maine

---
http://www.maineturnpike.com/html/cemetery.html

What do you suppose is the most frequently asked question about the Maine
Turnpike widening project? How long will it take? How much will it cost? How
many jobs will it create? The widening project, now entering its third year,
will be completed by the end of 2004. It will cost $135 million. It has
supported well over 200 jobs each construction season. But none of these
questions rank as the one most frequently asked. The question asked most
often is: "Whatever will happen to that old graveyard on the northbound side
of the highway in Kennebunk?"

The interest and downright affection for this landmark has been astounding.
This sentimental concern says something nice about Maine people and those
who come to visit us via the Turnpike. So, as we planned the widening
project, we were determined to be respectful of this piece of history. We
spent a good deal of time researching the history, tracking the families
buried there, and if possible contacting any living descendents. We also
spoke with local historians, officials and residents to gauge their thoughts
about how the graveyard should be dealt with in the midst of the widening
project.

We found that the graveyard served as the burial site for two families, the
Hatches and the Mitchells. Nineteen graves occupy the yard. The oldest
headstone marks the resting place of Obediah Hatch, the family patriarch,
who lived from 1730-1819. His wife, Jerusha, and daughter, Mary, are also
buried in the yard, as are his grandson, John, John's wife, Hannah, and
their children Mary and John. The first Mitchell buried in the yard was
James Mitchell, who lived from 1784 to 1857. Interestingly, James Mitchell
was the second husband of Hannah, the widow of Obediah's son John Hatch, who
died in a boating accident on the Mousam River. Hannah is buried between her
two husbands. The last person buried in the yard is believed to be Eunice
Littlefield, marked "L.E." with the date October 25 1883.

Our research and conversations with knowledgeable people in the area
reinforced our sense that, if at all possible, the graveyard should not be
disturbed. The Turnpike widening project is scheduled to reach the graveyard
in 2003. The widening will bring the highway closer, within 3 to 5 feet of
the graveyard, but it will not touch it. The graveyard will be protected by
guardrail as it is today. We plan to spruce up the yard a bit, being
extremely careful not to alter its historic character. We will weather-treat
the headstones, repair or replace the granite corner post and railings
around the yard, and improve the landscaping where appropriate. Finally, to
protect the gravestones from snow removal operations, we will erect a chain
link fence during the winter, removing it each spring so that commuters and
tourists can continue to enjoy the graveyard as a meaningful landmark.

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