Amherst’s poetical heritage is outstanding among small towns in America. Wildwood Cemetery is a key holder of community memory in perpetuity and so the trustees are pleased to honor this heritage while providing a scenic venue for small gatherings.
The parcel of Wildwood land on the hillside on the south side of Strong Street across from the main entrance to the greater part of the cemetery has not been used for graves nor been developed by the cemetery for any other purpose. It features southerly and westerly views across the town and the valley to the prominence of the Holyoke Range in the distance.
The memorial will honor the notable poets who resided in Amherst for all or some of their lives and here created some or all of their enduring opus. Only deceased poets have been considered for the inauguration of the memorial. Honorees, here presented in alphabetical order, are: James Baldwin, Emily Dickinson, Deborah Digges, Eugene Field, Robert Francis, Robert Frost, Jack Gilbert, Linda Gregg, Anne Halley, Helen Hunt Jackson, Joseph Langland, Archibald MacLeish, Andrew Salkey, Pat Schneider, James Tate, and Richard Wilbur. The memorial benches will be adorned with engraved bronze plaques dedicated to each honored poet including their dates of birth and death and an excerpt of their poetry.
The installation will be harmoniously aligned with the main Wildwood entrance across the street and designed for complementarity between the stone wall fronting that entrance and the stonework components of the memorial. The low profile of all the structures and the set-back from the road will allow it to blend into the landscape.
In addition to Wildwood’s own interests, community groups, schools, non-profit organizations, and individuals are welcome to inquire about usage of the poetry memorial for readings, educational programs, ceremonial events, small ensemble musical performances, and other occasions for which a modest sized seasonal outdoor venue is desired.
Assistance with design is being provided by architect John Kuhn and UMass landscape design graduate student Olivia Ahner under the guidance of Michael Davidsohn, UMass school of Landcape Design Senior Lecturer and Associate of Science Program Coordinator. Stonework will be constructed by local artisan Barry Kuzmeskus.
This project is being funded by a grant from Jonathan Klate in memory of his son, Ozzy, who died in 1994 at the age of 17 having written two novels, a thousand pages of poetry, and dozens of songs and been voted by his fellow Amherst Regional High School as “most likely to become famous” in the senior class.
The parcel of Wildwood land on the hillside on the south side of Strong Street across from the main entrance to the greater part of the cemetery has not been used for graves nor been developed by the cemetery for any other purpose. It features southerly and westerly views across the town and the valley to the prominence of the Holyoke Range in the distance.
The memorial will honor the notable poets who resided in Amherst for all or some of their lives and here created some or all of their enduring opus. Only deceased poets have been considered for the inauguration of the memorial. Honorees, here presented in alphabetical order, are: James Baldwin, Emily Dickinson, Deborah Digges, Eugene Field, Robert Francis, Robert Frost, Jack Gilbert, Linda Gregg, Anne Halley, Helen Hunt Jackson, Joseph Langland, Archibald MacLeish, Andrew Salkey, Pat Schneider, James Tate, and Richard Wilbur. The memorial benches will be adorned with engraved bronze plaques dedicated to each honored poet including their dates of birth and death and an excerpt of their poetry.
The installation will be harmoniously aligned with the main Wildwood entrance across the street and designed for complementarity between the stone wall fronting that entrance and the stonework components of the memorial. The low profile of all the structures and the set-back from the road will allow it to blend into the landscape.
In addition to Wildwood’s own interests, community groups, schools, non-profit organizations, and individuals are welcome to inquire about usage of the poetry memorial for readings, educational programs, ceremonial events, small ensemble musical performances, and other occasions for which a modest sized seasonal outdoor venue is desired.
Assistance with design is being provided by architect John Kuhn and UMass landscape design graduate student Olivia Ahner under the guidance of Michael Davidsohn, UMass school of Landcape Design Senior Lecturer and Associate of Science Program Coordinator. Stonework will be constructed by local artisan Barry Kuzmeskus.
This project is being funded by a grant from Jonathan Klate in memory of his son, Ozzy, who died in 1994 at the age of 17 having written two novels, a thousand pages of poetry, and dozens of songs and been voted by his fellow Amherst Regional High School as “most likely to become famous” in the senior class.
