Snow plow topples nearly 40 gravestones at local cemetery

Nearly 40 headstones were struck off their bases Wednesday at Byron Cemetery in Bath Twp. in Greene County.

It was all due to an accident that occurred when a groundskeeper was trying to plow snow from cemetery pathways.

Teresa Phillips, Byron Cemetery supervisor, said, “The snow is what pushed the stones over, it tells you how heavy the snow was this morning.”

Phillips said that special machinery was brought in to help get the stones back into place. Some of the stones and monuments reportedly weighed several hundred pounds.

Cemetery officials don’t believe any stones were severely damaged and said groundskeepers will work around the clock to fix any remaining stones or monuments.

Once the weather gets better, Phillips said they will assess everything and assures all of the patrons the restoration will be done right.