Destruction of cemeteries is a
painful process for the family members whose relatives’ grave markers have been
harmed. Is the thrill of doing something
bad and maybe never getting caught what gives the perpetrators the right to
cause this harm? Does being disrespectful
of other people’s property ever cross their minds?
In June of this year, the 140
year old Glenwood Cemetery in Picton, Ontario was vandalized with headstones
and monuments nearly being destroyed and 150 of them being toppled off their
foundations. The cemetery estimated it
would cost $150,000 to make all the repairs.
Fund raising has begun.
Fortunately, my friend and
helpful research colleague in Picton, John D. Lyons, went to the cemetery to
inquire about Branscombe family records only to find out that their headstone
had been harmed. Buried in this cemetery
are Gena Branscombe’s father - Henry William Branscombe, her mother – Sara
Elizabeth Allison Branscombe and their infant son - Allison Arthur Branscombe. Their headstone was broken off from its
foundation.
Mr. Lyons informed the manager
of Glenwood Cemetery that he was in contact with someone who knew descendants
of the Branscombes. The cemetery manager
had no known family contacts on file and was happy to hear the Branscombe
headstone was not an “orphan”.
With the information John e-mailed
me, I in-turn e-mailed Gena’s grandsons and great nieces. Family members took
action by contacting the cemetery. We
were informed of the amount of money it would take to have the Branscombe grave
marker remounted on the foundation. In
addition, the grave marker has metal inlays to the lettering which is rare and
was expensive to have made in its day. The
metal is tarnished and needs restoration work for an additional fee.
With family members and a few
others contributing, the Branscombe headstone in the Picton Greenwood Cemetery
will be remounted and restored. May
those who lie beneath the headstone rest in peace knowing they are cherished. Their memory has been preserved by the
Branscombe descendants.
*photos taken by John D. Lyons
