Students at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School are honoring the school’s namegiver by repairing his grave marker.
The John Greenleaf Whittier historical marker at Amesbury Union Cemetery broke in half when it fell from one of the chains that suspended it. Besides the break, the corner of the marker also chipped off.
Students studying metal fabrication made a new support for the hanger and CAD students used their three-dimensional printer to design and craft a new corner for the metal marker. The corner was then cast from aluminum in the metal fabrication shop. Finally, the two pieces of the original aluminum marker were welded back together. It has the year 1663 carved on it, the year the Amesbury cemetery on Main Street opened.
Members of the Whittier Home Association, Amesbury, with the support of Haverhill’s Whittier Birthplace, spearheaded the restoration of the gravesite. A new bench has been installed and grass will be planted this spring.
The poet and abolitionist was born in Haverhill in 1807 and moved to Amesbury in 1836. He died in 1892 in Hampton Falls, N.H.
Good job by the Whittier students, but this sign isn’t Whittier’s grave marker. This is a sign near the cemetery entrance notifying visitors that “Here lies Whittier” meaning he’s buried inside this cemetery, but not at that exact location.
The students should be very proud. Great work and great school!