Take a walk through history at these Massachusetts cemeteries R. Scott Reedy Daily News Correspondent Looking for somewhere to take a contemplative walk and a break from today’s uncertain times? By design, many cemeteries – particularly the rural or garden variety which gradually replaced churchyard burying grounds over the course of the 19th century – afford peace and quiet, and the opportunity for reflection. Today, with their paved roads and walkways, cemeteries – some flat and others with hills – are ideal for walking. And while they offer solitude, even on the quietest of days you’ll rarely be entirely alone. Cemeteries are home to birds and other animals – squirrels and rabbits, the occasional deer or turkey, or, if there is a nearby pond or stream, perhaps geese, turtles, even a swan or two.