Quaker Cemetery, Historic Quaker cemetery in Leicester, Massachusetts.
Quaker Cemetery is a burial ground in Leicester with numerous headstones arranged in traditional Quaker style, each bearing simple inscriptions for community members. The grounds are maintained by the Worcester Friends Meeting and sit between Mulberry Street and Manville Street.
The cemetery was established in 1740, beginning with the burial of John Potter as its first occupant. Over time, it became the final resting place for prominent Quaker families such as Earle and Southwick.
The design and layout reflect Quaker principles of simplicity and equality, where all graves receive the same modest treatment without hierarchy or elaborate decoration. Walking through shows how the community expressed these values in how they honored their dead.
Access is via an unpaved road between Mulberry Street and Manville Street, so sturdy footwear is recommended, especially after rain or wet weather. The grounds are open during daylight hours and there is parking available near the entrance road.
The cemetery features distinctive stone gates built between 1892 and 1894 that display a pattern resembling sun rays or spider legs. This striking feature earned the site the alternative name Spider Gates Cemetery and makes it easy to identify.
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