RURAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
RULES FOR RURAL CEMETERY
The following Rules relative to the Rural Cemetery have been adopted by the Association on July 29, 1980, with a desire to enhance the beauty of the Cemetery and to better protect visitors to the Cemetery as well as property within the Cemetery.
1. BURIAL LOTS: All burial lots are sold by the Rural Cemetery with the understanding the purchaser will abide by the Rules of the Rural Cemetery Association. Burial lots are available as follows:
a. A one casket lot (Added 7/22/2004)
b. A two casket lot or multiples thereof.
c. One cremain lot (4’x4’) for two cremains
d. A casket space may be converted into 4 cremain spaces (Revised 7/22/2004)
e. Head stones, where permitted, not to exceed 24x30x14 are limited to one per two casket lot (added 7/17/1997)
f. A one casket lot and a cremain lot may have only surface markers not to exceed 18x30 (Added 7/22/2004)
g. A fee equal to the current per space purchase price shall be paid for each and every casket or cremain over and above the spaces provided for in the original purchase agreement.
2. CEMETERY OPEN: The Rural Cemetery shall be open to visitors at all reasonable hours from April 15 to November 15. The President and Executive Committee are authorized to open the cemetery during the closed period at times and for such purposes as they may determine. Furthermore, the President and Executive Committee are authorized to close the Rural Cemetery at any time they believe such closing is necessary or desirable. (Revised (7/25/2006)
3. VEHICLES:
a. Motor vehicles, duly registered, may be operated over the roadways of Rural Cemetery by visitors or business invitees, duly licensed to operate such vehicles, provided such vehicles are operated in a safe and careful manner.
b. No person or persons shall park, or permit to be parked, a motor vehicle owned or controlled by them in the cemetery after sundown.
4. FIREARMS: The use of, or the possession of, firearms within the Rural Cemetery is prohibited. The President or his designee, however, is authorized to give special permission to named individuals to possess or use firearms in Rural Cemetery relative to a Military funeral or patriotic exercise.
5. CHILDREN: A child or children, under the age of fifteen (15), within the cemetery grounds must be accompanied by an adult responsible for the behavior of such child or children.
6. ANIMALS: Any animal brought into Rural Cemetery must be leashed or otherwise restrained and the owner is required to clean up after them.
7. FLOWERS, PLANTS AND SHRUBS: The planting and maintenance, including the height of shrubs, must have the approval and permission of the President or his designee. The Cemetery Association encourages the use of flowers throughout the summer season, but requests those placing flowers in the cemetery to please remove them before that become wilted or unattractive to the lot. The use of suitable urns or other appropriate plant containers is permitted. Not more than two such containers are permitted on any lot. Containers not in use will be removed. The President or representative shall have the right to enter upon any lot and remove therefrom grass, branches, undesirable flowers or plants, and any improper or offensive objects. Artificial flowers may be used but must be in a suitable container or vase. Ground cover type plants are prohibited. All removed material will be deposited in appropriate provide containers.
8. DAMAGED PROPERTY: The Rural Cemetery, its officers or agents shall not be held responsible for damage to any lot, marker, monument, post or curbing, nor the planting on any lot; neither shall they be responsible for any urns, containers, or other articles placed upon a lot in the cemetery. The Rural Cemetery, through its officers and agents will use reasonable care to avoid damage to any lot or appurtenances.
Note: The Laws of the State of New Hampshire (RSA Chap. 572) provide penalties for wrongfully destroying, injuring, defacing, or removing any tomb, monument, stone, or other structure, including trees, shrubs or plants; penalties are also provided if such acts include a fence, railing or curbing; other penalties are provided for the wrongful removal of decorations from a grave as well as for any act tending to desecrate a grave. No person shall make gravestone rubbings in Rural Cemetery without first obtaining written permission of the President or his designee. Before granting such permission, the President or his designee will ascertain to the best of their ability that the person making the request knows the proper precautions to be taken and the proper materials to be used for this activity.
9. FENCING AND GRASS: Erection and/or maintenance of fencing or other enclosures around a lot, or any part thereof is prohibited. Corner posts are permitted but must be kept flush with the ground with no raised letters. All lots shall be covered with suitable grass.
10. ROADS: All roads within the cemetery are under the direct control and supervision of the President or his designee. Trucks over four (4) tons are permitted within the cemetery only by special permission of the President or his designee.
11. WORKMAN: All workmen performing any work within the Rural Cemetery shall be subject to the direction of the President or his designee.
12. HEADSTONES: Headstones may be upright except in the North Meadow where only surface markers are permitted. The upright headstones in North Meadow will be permitted to remain. (Revised 7/29/2010).
13. PURCHASE OF BURIAL:
a. Burial lots may be purchased from the President or individual designated by him in accordance with a price schedule adopted by the Association. All burial lots will be sold only to Sandwich legal residents, taxpayers, or to former residents. Borderline cases will be left up to the discretion of the President.
b. At the time of purchase, the buyer shall provide the name of his/her designee or heir who will become the owner of the burial plot.
c. The owner shall submit to the Association a list of names of those authorized to be interred in the burial lot.
14. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP:
a. The owner of a burial lot, or their heirs, shall not grant, sell, or convey the said burial lot to any person or persons other than the Association.
b. The burial lot owner shall endorse the back of the original Lot Certificate or Purchase Agreement indicating the transfer back to the Association, duly signed and dated, and return it to the President. The Association reserves the right to refuse such transfers for just cause.
c. The Association may purchase the lot at the price of the original sale. The Secretary shall record the change or ownership in the cemetery records. Existing lot sizes shall not be affected by any transfer of ownership.
15. PERPETUAL CARE: Perpetual care of lots includes the mowing of grass, removing old flowers, fallen leaves, tree branches or other debris, and care of cemetery roads and fences.
16. REGULAR CARE: Regular care does not include special care of monuments, watering, or fertilizing the grass, nor the planting of plants and shrubbery.
17. LOT GRADE: All lots reseeded or remade will be at such grade level as the President or his designee may determine. The grade will be level with the surrounding area; no grave mounds are permitted.
18. RE-SEEDING: Re-seeding or re-turfing of lots will be done under the direction of the President or his designee. The cost of re-seeding or re-turfing will be the responsibility of the requestor.
19. OPENING GRAVES: Graves must be opened under the direction of the President or his designee. The President or Vice President or their designee shall be notified prior to any burial taking place in Rural Cemetery. It is the policy of the cemetery that equipment used to open a grave may not pass over an existing grave site. This may require that a grave be dug by hand. (Revised 7/25/2006)
20. INTERMENT: Bodies or ashes of deceased humans only may be buried in Rural Cemetery. All body burials require a cement/metallic vault or cement liner.
21. DISENTERMENT: The disinterment of a body or cremains shall be subject to RSA 290:5. A copy of the required permit will be filed with the Secretary of the Association.
22. RECEIVING VAULT: During the winter months the undertaker will store the body and make arrangements for the burial in the spring.
23. PEDESTRIANS: Persons within the cemetery shall use roads and walks, where available, and no person shall walk upon or across a burial lot unless it is necessary to gain access to a particular lot.
24. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are to be present or consumed within the cemetery.
25. VIOLATIONS OF RULES: Any person willfully violating any of these rules will be ejected and excluded from Rural Cemetery. Such further action may be taken as the President or Executive Committee deem advisable.
A copy of these Rules and of any changes that may be made shall be sent to all members of the Rural Cemetery Association and persons when they purchase lots therein.
Revised July 1995, 1997, 2004, 2006, Aug 2007, July 2010
Updated 7/29/10
1. BURIAL LOTS: All burial lots are sold by the Rural Cemetery with the understanding the purchaser will abide by the Rules of the Rural Cemetery Association. Burial lots are available as follows:
a. A one casket lot (Added 7/22/2004)
b. A two casket lot or multiples thereof.
c. One cremain lot (4’x4’) for two cremains
d. A casket space may be converted into 4 cremain spaces (Revised 7/22/2004)
e. Head stones, where permitted, not to exceed 24x30x14 are limited to one per two casket lot (added 7/17/1997)
f. A one casket lot and a cremain lot may have only surface markers not to exceed 18x30 (Added 7/22/2004)
g. A fee equal to the current per space purchase price shall be paid for each and every casket or cremain over and above the spaces provided for in the original purchase agreement.
2. CEMETERY OPEN: The Rural Cemetery shall be open to visitors at all reasonable hours from April 15 to November 15. The President and Executive Committee are authorized to open the cemetery during the closed period at times and for such purposes as they may determine. Furthermore, the President and Executive Committee are authorized to close the Rural Cemetery at any time they believe such closing is necessary or desirable. (Revised (7/25/2006)
3. VEHICLES:
a. Motor vehicles, duly registered, may be operated over the roadways of Rural Cemetery by visitors or business invitees, duly licensed to operate such vehicles, provided such vehicles are operated in a safe and careful manner.
b. No person or persons shall park, or permit to be parked, a motor vehicle owned or controlled by them in the cemetery after sundown.
4. FIREARMS: The use of, or the possession of, firearms within the Rural Cemetery is prohibited. The President or his designee, however, is authorized to give special permission to named individuals to possess or use firearms in Rural Cemetery relative to a Military funeral or patriotic exercise.
5. CHILDREN: A child or children, under the age of fifteen (15), within the cemetery grounds must be accompanied by an adult responsible for the behavior of such child or children.
6. ANIMALS: Any animal brought into Rural Cemetery must be leashed or otherwise restrained and the owner is required to clean up after them.
7. FLOWERS, PLANTS AND SHRUBS: The planting and maintenance, including the height of shrubs, must have the approval and permission of the President or his designee. The Cemetery Association encourages the use of flowers throughout the summer season, but requests those placing flowers in the cemetery to please remove them before that become wilted or unattractive to the lot. The use of suitable urns or other appropriate plant containers is permitted. Not more than two such containers are permitted on any lot. Containers not in use will be removed. The President or representative shall have the right to enter upon any lot and remove therefrom grass, branches, undesirable flowers or plants, and any improper or offensive objects. Artificial flowers may be used but must be in a suitable container or vase. Ground cover type plants are prohibited. All removed material will be deposited in appropriate provide containers.
8. DAMAGED PROPERTY: The Rural Cemetery, its officers or agents shall not be held responsible for damage to any lot, marker, monument, post or curbing, nor the planting on any lot; neither shall they be responsible for any urns, containers, or other articles placed upon a lot in the cemetery. The Rural Cemetery, through its officers and agents will use reasonable care to avoid damage to any lot or appurtenances.
Note: The Laws of the State of New Hampshire (RSA Chap. 572) provide penalties for wrongfully destroying, injuring, defacing, or removing any tomb, monument, stone, or other structure, including trees, shrubs or plants; penalties are also provided if such acts include a fence, railing or curbing; other penalties are provided for the wrongful removal of decorations from a grave as well as for any act tending to desecrate a grave. No person shall make gravestone rubbings in Rural Cemetery without first obtaining written permission of the President or his designee. Before granting such permission, the President or his designee will ascertain to the best of their ability that the person making the request knows the proper precautions to be taken and the proper materials to be used for this activity.
9. FENCING AND GRASS: Erection and/or maintenance of fencing or other enclosures around a lot, or any part thereof is prohibited. Corner posts are permitted but must be kept flush with the ground with no raised letters. All lots shall be covered with suitable grass.
10. ROADS: All roads within the cemetery are under the direct control and supervision of the President or his designee. Trucks over four (4) tons are permitted within the cemetery only by special permission of the President or his designee.
11. WORKMAN: All workmen performing any work within the Rural Cemetery shall be subject to the direction of the President or his designee.
12. HEADSTONES: Headstones may be upright except in the North Meadow where only surface markers are permitted. The upright headstones in North Meadow will be permitted to remain. (Revised 7/29/2010).
13. PURCHASE OF BURIAL:
a. Burial lots may be purchased from the President or individual designated by him in accordance with a price schedule adopted by the Association. All burial lots will be sold only to Sandwich legal residents, taxpayers, or to former residents. Borderline cases will be left up to the discretion of the President.
b. At the time of purchase, the buyer shall provide the name of his/her designee or heir who will become the owner of the burial plot.
c. The owner shall submit to the Association a list of names of those authorized to be interred in the burial lot.
14. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP:
a. The owner of a burial lot, or their heirs, shall not grant, sell, or convey the said burial lot to any person or persons other than the Association.
b. The burial lot owner shall endorse the back of the original Lot Certificate or Purchase Agreement indicating the transfer back to the Association, duly signed and dated, and return it to the President. The Association reserves the right to refuse such transfers for just cause.
c. The Association may purchase the lot at the price of the original sale. The Secretary shall record the change or ownership in the cemetery records. Existing lot sizes shall not be affected by any transfer of ownership.
15. PERPETUAL CARE: Perpetual care of lots includes the mowing of grass, removing old flowers, fallen leaves, tree branches or other debris, and care of cemetery roads and fences.
16. REGULAR CARE: Regular care does not include special care of monuments, watering, or fertilizing the grass, nor the planting of plants and shrubbery.
17. LOT GRADE: All lots reseeded or remade will be at such grade level as the President or his designee may determine. The grade will be level with the surrounding area; no grave mounds are permitted.
18. RE-SEEDING: Re-seeding or re-turfing of lots will be done under the direction of the President or his designee. The cost of re-seeding or re-turfing will be the responsibility of the requestor.
19. OPENING GRAVES: Graves must be opened under the direction of the President or his designee. The President or Vice President or their designee shall be notified prior to any burial taking place in Rural Cemetery. It is the policy of the cemetery that equipment used to open a grave may not pass over an existing grave site. This may require that a grave be dug by hand. (Revised 7/25/2006)
20. INTERMENT: Bodies or ashes of deceased humans only may be buried in Rural Cemetery. All body burials require a cement/metallic vault or cement liner.
21. DISENTERMENT: The disinterment of a body or cremains shall be subject to RSA 290:5. A copy of the required permit will be filed with the Secretary of the Association.
22. RECEIVING VAULT: During the winter months the undertaker will store the body and make arrangements for the burial in the spring.
23. PEDESTRIANS: Persons within the cemetery shall use roads and walks, where available, and no person shall walk upon or across a burial lot unless it is necessary to gain access to a particular lot.
24. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are to be present or consumed within the cemetery.
25. VIOLATIONS OF RULES: Any person willfully violating any of these rules will be ejected and excluded from Rural Cemetery. Such further action may be taken as the President or Executive Committee deem advisable.
A copy of these Rules and of any changes that may be made shall be sent to all members of the Rural Cemetery Association and persons when they purchase lots therein.
Revised July 1995, 1997, 2004, 2006, Aug 2007, July 2010
Updated 7/29/10