Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The city of Peabody has put a pause on presales for grave sites at Cedar Grove Cemetary as the number of vacant sites dwindles.
After a spike in sales, there are roughly 25 vacant sites at the cemetery. Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said he thinks word got around of the limited space and residents started to claim spots for their burials.
"I think that's just some common knowledge in the community that this was happening," Bettencourt said.
The city has plans for an expansion, which will add hundreds more grave sites. Presales will be paused until the expansion is complete.
When asked why residents want to be buried at this cemetery over others, Bettencourt said, "I think it's just been here for a long time, it's embedded in the community, it's part of the community, it's a beautifully maintained and landscaped area."
Many families are also buried together here, with some having their burials here for generations, Bettencourt said.
"I think there's a lot of people in Peabody that remain in Peabody, that's where their grandparents, their parents, their family are buried, and I think that's where people want to be," Bettencourt said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.