History of Blake Street Cemetery

by Ben Ross, First Unitarian Universalist Society

The First Unitarian Universalist Society New Haven worship committee invites you to hear our guest speaker Sherill Baldwin on June 8, 2025. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of New Haven, 608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.

Family historian and genealogist Sherill Baldwin will share her research on the history of Blake Street Cemetery and some of the people buried there. Blake Street is a small “paupers’ cemetery” for indigent burials adjacent to the larger Westville and Mishkan Israel Cemeteries. Over 2100 people were buried at Blake Street from about 1881 to 1931. For the last year Sherill has been uncovering and sharing the stories of New Haveners buried at Blake Street online at her website “Buried Stories,” including the fascinating stories of John Bray, Edward Ditymus, Matilda Fitch, and Charles P. Geyer, Jr. Also buried at Blake Street Cemetery is Lois Tritton, a formerly enslaved woman who was sold in the last known auction of enslaved people ever to happen in New Haven (and possibly the state of CT) on March 8, 1825 on the Green.

If you cannot join us in person, here is our link: bit.ly/43g4fym.

Documentary Reuse! Free Screening March 2 EcoWorks

EcoWorks/Creative Reuse presents a free screening of “Reuse! Because You Can’t Recycle the Planet,” at 5:30 p.m. March 2 at the New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave. The free screening will be followed by a panel discussion with local reuse businesses in the New Haven area. The panelists are Joe DeRisi, Urban Mines; Lori Martin, Food Rescue US (formerly Community Plates); Lisa Spetrini, EcoWorks; and Melissa Gonzales, Vinanthromodern; with Sherill Baldwin, moderator.

The film isn’t about our waste problem. It’s about solutions. And they are everywhere!

Traditional recycling is NOT enough. The REUSE mission offers a more sustainable solution that everyone can be a part of. The film REUSE! follows reuse pro Alex Eaves’ cross-country adventure to all 48 states. He finds endless reuse solutions for our waste problems that are not only sustainable, but many of which are easy and fun!

Coordinated in collaboration with the NH Bioregional Group and the New Haven Museum.