PANORTHA-L Archives

From:
Subject: Dryland Cemetery stone info.from newspaper
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 13:12:31 EDT

Globe Times Newspaper, Monday Aug. 19, 1974

Tombstones Bulldozed On Living Memorial Site

Tombstones are being bulldozed in a section of the former Dryland Church
Cemetery in Hecktown, where a living memorial will be erected in the future.
Harold Fabian head of the Dryland Graveyard Assn. said site, dating back to
the 1750s, will be marked by a central monument with a standard placed nearby
listing the names of those buried on the grounds.
The graveyard over a period of time, will be regraded and seeded so as to be
"presentable to the rest of the community," Fabian explained. No graves will
be touched, he added.
The Rev. Robert Herman pastor of the Hecktown Trinity Lutheran Church,
commenting on the work being done said: The wind gets terrific up there, blowing
over the brittle stones and breaking them. A lawnmower couldn't get through there.
It is estimated that approximately 50 tons of top soil will be needed to
complete the work.
Fabian stressed that " considerable time will be required before the
changeover is completed." Repairs attempted in the early 1960s were not successful,
Rev. Mr. Herman said earlier.
It was also pointed out that further attempts at repair work would have
involved "tremendous costs" that could not be underwriten.

There is a picture of a bulldozer picking up the stones.
Where they went from there is unknown.
I did call the church to ask if they knew what happened to the stones. The
said they would check and get back to me.

Globe Times Newspaper, Thursday April 3, 1975

County Votes Funds For Cemetery

Northampton County Commissioners voted today to appropriate $1500 to the
Dryland Graveyard Cemetery Assn., Hecktown, for the erection of a veterans
memorial.
Board Chairman Martin J. Bechtel disclosed efforts by its Veterans Affairs
office to solicitate funds for the project from state and county veterans
organizations have been futile.
The only stipulation made by the commissioners in turning over the money to
the Lower Nazareth Twp. organization is that the project receive approval from
the State Arts Commission, a requirement in the county code.
The memorial planned by the association will honor 86 veterans dating back to
the French-Indian and Civil Wars.
The commissioners indicated the $1500 contribution is the maximum ammount of
money the law allows to be given.
Cemetery officials said the project has a historical value and is the
townships chief bicentennial mission for 1976.
The monument will replace grave markers which have been removed. The markers
were ilegible and in many instances were found broken.
Involved are Revolutionary, Civil War, French-Indian War, and veteran graves
from the War of 1812.
The cost of the project which will have a basin effect, surrounded by
shrubbery will cost upwards of $7000.

Jean

This thread:

• Dryland Cemetery stone info.from newspaper by