Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Federalsburg Cemetary Vandalized

I remember this beautiful cemetary very well from my childhood days of living in Federalsburg.  I visited there some months ago and it still carries the peacefulness it always did many years ago.  What a shame people have nothing better to do.  The residents of this quiet town are extremely upset and they have every right to be.  If I am correct the Chief of Police of Federalsburg grew up there and I know the citizens feel comfident that he WILL find those responsible for this horrible incident.
Photo By Abby Andrews

By ABBY ANDREWS Staff Writer

FEDERALSBURG For the second time in as many weeks, a Caroline County graveyard was vandalized, Federalsburg police reported.


Police said 31 headstones and monuments, some dating back to the 1800s, scattered throughout the east section of the Hillcrest Cemetery on Bloomingdale Avenue were toppled sometime between 3 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.


Police have no suspects at the time, and are asking for the public's help. Anyone with information should call the Federalsburg Police Department at 410-754-8966. All information will be kept confidential.


Police said they have contacted the Greensboro Police Department, who are investigating a similar incident in an abandoned Methodist cemetery that happened overnight between Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, but so far there is no information indicating the acts are related.


Norman Bradley, a member of the Hillcrest Cemetery committee, said he discovered the damage Tuesday morning, when he and his dog arrived for their daily walk through the grounds.


Bradley said he saw two overturned tombstones as soon as he parked his car, and then noticed two more, which was when he called the town police.


"It's a shame," Bradley said. "It's a shame for the people buried there, for the Town of Federalsburg and for the cemetery."


A 30-year member of the committee, Bradley said this is only the second time he can remember such widespread vandalism in the cemetery. The other time was 22 years ago.


"Maybe a couple of times in the last 15 years or so, we've had one or two headstones knocked over, but not 31," Bradley said.


Bradley said he thought most of the damaged monuments and headstones were very old, though one marked a grave that was just dug in March.


The committee that oversees the privately owned cemetery has insurance, Bradley said, but he did not know if it covered repairs. He said an adjuster was coming out to do an estimate.


Among the cemetery's well-known graves is that of Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Marvin H. Smith.


Source;  http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_9b46eee8-8782-56c1-95d8-e3e025c8efd8.html

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