Tucked away just north of Route 6 is the Cushing Cemetery, a 200-year-old graveyard that serves as the final resting place for ship captains and Revolutionary and Civil War veterans. Historic names, such as Barstow and Hammond, show up among others eroded away. Stonewalls and a rusted fence surround the perimeter along Acushnet Road.

This scene, however, is dependent on money that has proven extremely difficult to raise.

The Cushing Cemetery Commission has been trying to raise funds for about a year, according to commission member Barry Denham. He says the goal is to raise anywhere from a quarter to a half million dollars.

The tally currently stands at $500.

“The funds are used for mowing, primarily,” Denham said. “But there’s other maintenance, too. The people doing the work can only do it with available funds. Once those dry up, care for the cemetery goes down. We can only do so much.”

Cushing Cemetery, established in 1806, has been privately owned since the early 1900s. The non-profit commission’s goal is to handle burials and upkeep. Though Denham said being privately owned saves the town money, the cemetery's own funds are constantly being drained.

“Many of the people who supported it are relatives of people buried here,” he said. “And anyone can be buried here, even though it's privately owned.”

If the funds dry up, Denham said a number of things could occur: The fence would rot out, the weeds would grow unchecked and the whole cemetery would be unsightly. Vandalism could get worse -- although Denhem adds that, in many cases of Cushing vandalism, the vandals have been apprehended.

"We continually need help,” Denham said. “It would be nice if someone donated a large endowment, but we just get $75 to $100 here and there. As it keeps trickling in, we’ll keep asking for support.”

Donations for to Cushing Cemetery may be sent to Cushing Cemetery Fund, PO Box 747, Mattapoisett, MA.