Protect Milford’s first burial ground

I strongly oppose the development of 67 Prospect St. to be voted on very soon by the Planning and Zoning Board as the property contains the first burial ground of Milford, the final resting place of Milford’s earliest settlers — including 11 of my direct ancestors.

For centuries, these historic property lines have remained consistent. Overlaying the 1646, 1835 and 1856 maps through today’s shows Prudden’s “garden” or graveyard lies partially within 67 Prospect St.

Prudden’s lot abutted an alley at 81 Prospect St. Beneath lay the graveyard, shown on maps through 1858. Its western boundary lies south of the east line of 17/19 Cherry St. from the alley through 75, 67 and 55 Prospect.

Buildings, roads and water courses were correctly mapped over 230 years. Lambert’s 1835 survey again records the cemetery’s boundaries.

The board is scheduled to permit a development that will desecrate early settlers’ graves. It is sacrilegious and disrespectful to destroy final resting places, to permit digging up graves, period. I cannot quietly let this happen to the remains of my ancestors, laid to rest nearly 375 years ago.

The ground-penetrating radar performed is inadequate, contradicting mapped evidence. After 300 years no buried surfaces remain to reflect back radar waves.

I urge the Planning and Zoning Board to view the maps. Walk to the property line of 81 and 75 Prospect, look east knowing the cemetery lay south beneath the alley, continuing south below Baldwin’s southern property line 200 years later. Locate the eastern lot line of 17/19 Cherry St., follow it south to 55 Prospect St. — it forms the west boundary of the cemetery, straight through 67 Prospect.

I beg the Planning and Zoning Board to consider their legacy. Approval will destroy these graves forever and cannot be undone. Have respect for the souls buried in Milford’s first cemetery. Please set a good precedent, protect what can be saved. Please be responsible and deny any development of 67 Prospect St., which contains Milford’s first burial ground.

Karen Tereshkow Bridgeport