Construction of the Little Greenville Cemetery on Church Street was begun in 1974 as part of a five-year project that was estimated to cost $500,000. The driving force behind the project was New York developer John Equi, who had family members buried in a small “family plot” cemetery next to the lot that would be developed into the new cemetery.
Byron F. Hopkins of Scituate was hired to design the new cemetery which was to accommodate 1,600 graves, and feature rose terraces, trees, planters, park benches, a circular drive, and a stone wall. The stone wall around the cemetery was built by Frank Rambone of Scituate.
After the land was cleared, 40,000 yards of fill were required to bring the land up to grade.
A $100,000 trust fund was established at a local bank, the interest from which would be used for perpetual care of the grounds.
Source:
Providence Sunday Journal, “Greenville Woodlands Becoming Cemetery”, September 1, 1974
