Wonderful New Nantucket Book About Prospect Hill Cemetery!

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • May 1, 2012

Hot off the presses is a wonderful new Nantucket book by Paula Lundy Levy, the historian (who also wears the hats of database coordinator and photo archivist among others) for the Prospect Hill Cemetery (PHC) here on island. This has been a labor of love. A labor of many years. A labor I know her family has taken part in as well. And it has been no small undertaking (no pun intended!).


The Prospect Hill Cemetery Association, which owns the cemetery and is a not-for-profit, has published this book with the help of donations and grants and it is a fantastic treasure that I am so glad we finally have! And even better – all the proceeds of the sales of this book go towards the conservation and preservation of the beautiful rolling cemetery and the stone monuments that mark the final resting places of the people who shaped our beautiful, strong island nation.


Tuck’t In: A Walking Tour of Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery is a compilation of entries from journals, photographs, cemetery records, and other bits of information gathered by Paula during her research over many years. It is laid out by the sections of the cemetery but there is also an index by name and one by lot number.


I already know that this book will be one of my “go to” first stops when conducting research. And did I mention that the Mitchells are included? If you are interested, the books can be purchased at the MMA’s Gift Shop at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, and also at island bookstores.

Paula and I will be conducting a stone monument cleaning workshop in June at the PHC. For more details about the workshop, click on over to the MMA Summer Program Guide on our website. There you will also see how to pre-register as space is limited. We hope you will join us!


JNLF

Recent Posts

July 7, 2026
NANTUCKET, MA— The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is excited to announce the return of its Fourth Annual MMA Pop-Up Shopping Event, taking place July 13–15, 2026, at 33 Washington Street . The three-day event will bring together more than fifteen thoughtfully curated, female-founded brands for an elevated shopping experience, with 15% of vendor sales benefiting the Maria Mitchell Association's new Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. The annual pop-up has quickly become a summer tradition, offering island residents and visitors the opportunity to discover unique fashion, home décor, accessories, art, jewelry, gourmet foods, and lifestyle brands while supporting one of Nantucket's most beloved nonprofit organizations. This year’s vendors include Center & Spring, CJW, Classic & Curious Podcast with Anne Kokoskie, Dress More with Less, Haute Energy, Hibiscus Linens, Leigh Brown, Line in the Sand, Love All Tennis, Lulu Powers, Marfa Stance, MDVII, Michela Bruni Reichlin, Neelah Cashmere, The Preppy Stitch, Those Carls Girls, and Wendy Loves This. The event kicks off with an opening party on Monday, July 13, featuring the second annual Summer Games: Mahjong & Backgammon Tournament, presented by the Nantucket Mahjong Club . Guests will enjoy a late afternoon of friendly competition, shopping, Château Sainte Marguerite rosé, a Triple 8 cocktail by Tinker’s Bar , Caviar Nantucket , Shells Angels Raw Bar, Nantucket Nosh, and entertainment by DJ Garrett Justice . One hundred percent of tournament proceeds from the tournament will benefit the MMA Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. The shopping event will continue on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15 with fifteen percent of all vendor sales to benefit the Maria Mitchell Association's Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. Three-Day Event Details at 33 Washington Street: MMA Opening Party with Summer Games: Mahjong & Backgammon Tournament Monday, July 13 4:00–7:00 p.m. MMA Pop-Up Shopping Event Tuesday, July 14 & Wednesday, July 15 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. For vendor information, and additional details, visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/2026-summer-pop-up About the Maria Mitchell Association: The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger July 6, 2026
July 15. {1863} My dear Sally . . . I think Mitchell is all right in his algebra. He can’t stand an examination in Trig but I don’t believe he will have a rigorous one. Father has seen the Prof. and will give him a letter to them.  If you can’t be honest with your sibling, who can you be honest with? Apparently, Sally Mitchell Barney’s son, William Mitchell Barney – known as Mitchell as his cousin William Mitchell Barney was known as Willie (how is that for honoring your father?!) – was visiting his aunt Maria and his grandfather, William Mitchell, at their home in Lynn, MA. Sally still lived on Nantucket and I suspect Mitchell was not only visiting but getting some much needed help with his mathematics by his aunt Maria. As always, she is brutally honest – he won’t pass a test in trigonometry (but, neither would I!). JNLF
July 1, 2026
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews
Show More