Templeton cemetery vandalized
Greenlawn Cemetery stones were toppled and one was destroyed in Templeton. (T&G Staff/GEORGE BARNES)
By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gbarnes@telegram.com
gbarnes@telegram.com
TEMPLETON — Vandalism in Greenlawn Cemetery was limited to four stones, but it happened at a bad time.
Alan Mayo, superintendent of parks and cemeteries, said that over the weekend vandals toppled three gravestones, including one marking the grave of a Civil War veteran, and destroyed a fourth stone, smashing it into pieces.
"Somebody was probably out looking for a quick joy," Mr. Mayo said.
The badly damaged stone can be repaired for $750 to $1,000, with another $500 added to the bill to return the other three to their bases.
Mr. Mayo said the stones are not likely to be repaired soon. Financial problems in Templeton have caused selectmen to cut most of his budget and lay off all his employees at least until July 1, the start of fiscal 2015. He is the lone employee in the department.
The vandalism is the first in Templeton cemeteries in many years. Mr. Mayo said weather, especially frost, also causes damage to stones. He had a regular stone repair program until two years ago, when financial problems developed in town.
At the annual town meeting this year, voters cut more than $500,000 from this year's town budget, virtually closing the Cemetery and Parks, Health and Building departments.
Mr. Mayo said the cuts have also had the effect of encouraging vandalism.
"When you get cemeteries in the condition they are in, people think you don't care and they can do what they want," he said.
Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG
Alan Mayo, superintendent of parks and cemeteries, said that over the weekend vandals toppled three gravestones, including one marking the grave of a Civil War veteran, and destroyed a fourth stone, smashing it into pieces.
"Somebody was probably out looking for a quick joy," Mr. Mayo said.
The badly damaged stone can be repaired for $750 to $1,000, with another $500 added to the bill to return the other three to their bases.
Mr. Mayo said the stones are not likely to be repaired soon. Financial problems in Templeton have caused selectmen to cut most of his budget and lay off all his employees at least until July 1, the start of fiscal 2015. He is the lone employee in the department.
The vandalism is the first in Templeton cemeteries in many years. Mr. Mayo said weather, especially frost, also causes damage to stones. He had a regular stone repair program until two years ago, when financial problems developed in town.
At the annual town meeting this year, voters cut more than $500,000 from this year's town budget, virtually closing the Cemetery and Parks, Health and Building departments.
Mr. Mayo said the cuts have also had the effect of encouraging vandalism.
"When you get cemeteries in the condition they are in, people think you don't care and they can do what they want," he said.
Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG
The desecration of someones grave is about as low as it gets. If anyone knows information about or has remorse for these acts please step up and reclaim your humanity before it's too late for you to know the difference. Admission of your guilt is the only way for you to become a normal human again. If you have any information please call Templeton dispatch at 9789395638
ReplyDeleteThe reason for the information is to stop this from happening again.
Never protect people who act this way if you do your as bad as they are for doing it.
I know it has been very upsetting to a lot of us that the override did not pass. Oh by the way, we should not forget to thank Virginia Wilder for writing the LTE in the Gardner News, suggesting that the residents of this town not vote for the override. Some people may have thought because they have heard her name, that she was credible, and followed her suggestions. At any rate, this is where we are, with very little cemetery help and Alan only working 20 hours a week. I want to thank who ever mowed the grass on the common, by Glady's stone. It was a very nice thing to do, and I appreciate it very much. Our town needs to get back on it's feet, and start doing things the right way. I never want the people that work for the town to ever go through this again, but I am only one vote. Shame on the people who thought it was great fun to destroy grave stones. These people need to be made to pay for the damages, so they think twice before they do something like this again. Bev.
ReplyDelete