Cumberland Monastery Project

Steeped in history, the Cumberland Monastery Project offers woodland trails, untouched woodland, native plants, and gardens. In addition it houses the oldest veterans’ grave site in the United States where a common grave known as “Nine Man’s Misery” holds the remains of soldiers killed by the Wampanoag Indians in 1676.

In 1900 the Cistercian Monks purchased the property from the Diocese of Providence. They built the monastery from stones quarried on the property and they named it “Our Lady of the Valley.” In order to sustain themselves, they planted orchards and gardens and kept farm animals of all kinds. A fire devastated the monastery in 1950 leaving only a part of the building, the structural stone walls, and a gatehouse intact.

In 1972 the Town of Cumberland purchased all 530 acres and shortly thereafter sited the town library and senior center there. As the townspeople began to use the property and walk the old Indian trails around the building, the town cleared and maintained them, built a gazebo, picnic tables, and fire pits, and installed a pond.           The URI Master Gardeners were asked to design and help install a garden in 2000. The garden, which is designed to teach the public about the plantings and sustainable gardening, was then accepted as a Master Gardener Community Project.  It has attracted a cadre of Master Gardener volunteers who work side by side with local residents to plant and maintain the butterfly and water gardens. Master Gardener leaders at the site are Terri Melvin and Claire Chenevert.

During the year a series of lectures is presented at the library on the monastery grounds. In the spring, an open house gardening day is held by the Master Gardeners in cooperation with local garden clubs and the Town of Cumberland. The day features plant sales, demonstrations and talks on gardening topics.

Photos by Master Gardener Al Belisle