Nutting burial site marker finally set

Agravestone marking the burial site of

James Pelletier pays his respects to Helen Cushing Nutting at The Old Cemetery in Ashburnham recently. Courtesy Photo author Helen Cushing Nutting has finally been placed, thanks to the continual efforts of one man, and monetary donations of others.

Former Ashburnham resident James Pelletier discovered the work of Nutting while doing research about Mt. Monadnock. Nutting, at age 57, wrote "To Monadnock" before her death in 1940.

Much to Pelletier's surprise, was unable to find her grave after deciding to pay his respects to the author at her resting-place.

Pelletier, 55, now had a mission - to locate the writer.

Months of research motivated him to organize an effort to raise funds to pay for a gravestone, which ended with the placement of a marker to recognize her life's work as a writer.

Pelletier said Nutting's book is

the result of years of research and

is cherished by historians interested

in Mt. Monadnock.

"To Monadnock" is considered to be the definitive historical reference book for the period from 1632 to 1925. Nutting's book, "To Monadnock: The Records of a Mountain in New Hampshire through Three Centuries" was published by the Stratford

Press of New York, in 1925. Nutting was the daughter of Granville Nutting and Eva Cushing Nutting. Her sister, Phoebe Nutting Rideout was an organizer for the Ashburnham Historical Society and the Women's Auxillary.

A gravesite memorial gathering is currently being planned.

- Submitted to The Journal