The Southborough Historical Commission discussed plans to mark Revolutionary War veterans buried in the Old Burial Ground at its April 3 meeting after a private donor offered to fund the project, Commission Chair Kevin Miller said.

Sally Waters, the commissions researcher on the project, has finalized a roster the commission says lists 34 veterans in marked graves and 36 in unmarked graves, Miller said. The commission debated whether to list all 70 names or to create a marker that highlights only the unmarked graves.

The donor asked to remain anonymous and asked that their name be kept confidential, Miller said. Miller said he reduced the commissions fiscal 2026 budget request from an initial total in the neighborhood of $4,250 back down to $1,500 to reflect the donors offer and to reserve roughly $500 for a separate Boston/Worcester bridge-abutment sign. Miller described that change as a stewardship step and said he informed the select board chair of the adjustment.

"I have every reason to believe that this is not a phantom," Miller said of the donor, adding that he planned more conversations with the donor about style and placement. He described the donor as "well known to me" and said he would honor the request for confidentiality.

Commission members weighing options discussed designs including a freestanding bronze plaque, a bronze plaque inset into a stone, or a small polished granite obelisk. Kelly O'Brien, a commission member, said she favored including all 70 names because "it's more of a statement when you see all of them together." Several members said they preferred a design that blends with existing markers and avoids "sign pollution" at the cemetery entrance.

Miller and members also raised placement concerns, saying some burial locations near the perimeter are uneven and that stones and fill make some areas unsuitable for a new monument. They sought to avoid putting any marker over an unrecorded grave.

The commission did not vote on a final design or take formal action to accept the donation. Instead Miller asked commissioners to research and bring several design examples to the next meeting for discussion, and he said he would consult further with the donor and report back. Sally Waterss roster was presented as final and the commission treated the rosters counts as the working totals for planning.

Next steps: commissioners will return to the May 6 meeting with sample designs and cost estimates so the commission can present options to the donor and finalize a plan for the Old Burial Ground.