Cemetery vandalized

Luray-Cave Hill

June 28, 1962 One of the most shocking and inexcusable crimes ever committed in this area took place here Saturday night of last week when vandals went on a destructive spree in Green Hill Cemetery.

It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county and is the resting place of the first settlers of the area.

Ninety-five stones of varying size were turned over and 24 broken from their bases.

Some of these stones appeared to weigh a ton or more and in most cases where old stones (some as old as 1842) were involved the stone was broken or smashed.

Some of the old stones are irreplaceable and their value cannot be ascertained.

Estimates of the cost of replacement varied from $5,000 to $10,000.

Experts have been engaged to assess the damage and lot owners will be notified by the Cemetery Trustees, of which J.M. Swetnam is president.

At time of going to press, police had not made any arrests but according to Police Chief Harry Farrar, an intensive investigation of the case is on and several leads are being followed.

The time of the crime was after midnight Sunday morning, according to the best estimates of the police.

~ From the public archives of the Page News and Courier

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