LEICESTER — Legend has it, somewhere in a small private Quaker cemetery in a secluded area of Kettle Brook Reservoir lies a series of portals that lead straight to hell.
Friends Cemetery dates back to the 1700s and is better known by its nickname, Spider Gates, named after the distinctive iron entryway. The iconic gates were put in place in 1895 and have been replaced at least once after being taken without permission. Today, the gates are gone. They were moved to the Leicester Historical Society for safekeeping after several incidents of vandalism and graffiti.
Over the years, the gates that welcome visitors have become a draw in itself. The Leicester Historical Commission is in discussion as to how to best put them back on public display while protecting them at the same time.
“We’re going to complete the restoration of the carriage/summer house located at the Swan Tavern-Leicester Historical Museum by spring 2025 and when that is done, we will decide between one of two plans on where to place them on public display along with a history of the Quakers in Leicester,” said Joe Lennerton of the Leicester Historical Commission.