Vandals Damage Historic D.C. Cemetery 300 Tombstones Broken or Ruined At NE Graveyard By Avis Thomas-Lester Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, February 9, 1999; Page B03 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************ A granite Virgin Mary had fallen face down on the ground. Nearby lay a broken memorial to a 17-year-old girl who died 100 years ago and was commemorated as "Our Darling." All across the historic 88-acre Mount Olivet Cemetery yesterday, granite and marble memorials were damaged and destroyed. D.C. police said it was the work of a band of vandals who converged on the Northeast Washington graveyard between 5:30 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. yesterday. They attacked more than 300 tombstones. Cemetery officials estimated the damage at $100,000 at least. "This was an extremely disturbing thing to see, because the first thing you think about is the families," said 5th Police District Commander Lloyd Coward. "I'll bet the [vandals] never thought of the effect this would have on them." The vandalism was discovered about 7 a.m. yesterday by the caretaker for the 190-year-old cemetery, which is the oldest and largest Catholic archdiocesan cemetery in the Washington area. The damaged tombstones included memorials in cement, limestone, granite and marble. Many of them weigh 1,000 pounds, and some are 200 years old. Police estimated that it may have taken as many as a dozen people to move some of the pieces. Often graveyard desecration is the work of drunk teenagers or is a fraternity prank, but usually investigators find empty liquor bottles, graffiti or other evidence, police said. "This time there was nothing," Coward said, adding that detectives are contacting local college security departments to inquire about possible pranks. The Washington Archdiocese yesterday asked that anyone who visited the graveyard late Sunday or early yesterday and saw large groups of people or anything unusual to contact the archdiocese or police. Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs said the cemetery is open 24 hours a day to allow people to visit the graves. Now that policy may be changed. Among the famous and infamous buried at Mount Olivet are James Hoban, designer of the White House, and Mary Surratt, hanged for her involvement in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Officials said none of the better-known tombstones were damaged. © Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company From: Gibbs, Susan [mailto:Gibbss@ADW.ORG] Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 7:55 PM To: 'info@msproductions.com' Subject: Mt. Olivet Press Release REPAIR WORK TO BEGIN AT MT. OLIVET CEMETERY Crews to Repair Hundreds of Stones Damaged by Vandals Repairs on the hundreds of tombstones knocked over and damaged by vandals last Sunday night at the historic Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 1300 Bladensburg Rd., NE, Washington, DC, will begin around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10. The 88-acre cemetery is the largest and oldest cemetery owned by the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1858, it is the final resting place of thousands of Washingtonians, including James Hoban, who designed the White House. "We are doing everything we can to repair this terrible damage as quickly as possible," said Mr. Frank Markowski, director of cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Washington. "This includes bringing in additional staff and equipment from our other cemeteries. Catholics cemeteries are not just places of rest for the dead, but are sacred places of prayer. That makes this senseless vandalism all the more devastating to us," he continued. The damage will be documented through photographs. Then, using specialized equipment, work crews will lift the heavy tombstones back into place, starting in areas where a large number were knocked over. The stones typically weigh between 500 and 1,000 pounds each. A setting compound will be used to secure the stones to their bases. Each stone will then be checked for chips or other damage. Some stones and the statues which were knocked over, including several of the Virgin Mary and of angels, will require additional equipment. In addition, the many stones and statues which have been broken will have to be evaluated for repair. Some, particularly hand-carved stones dating from the 1800's, are irreplaceable. Initial estimates of the damage surpass $100,000. "Mount Olivet Cemetery's four phone lines have been jammed with callers from up and down the East Coast since the incident was first reported in the press. Requests from family members should be answered within two to three days, once our staff has been able to check the records and the damage," said Mr. Markowski. "I am grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from the community," Mr. Markowski said. "I just ask anyone who may have information about this crime to contact the police as soon as possible, and to join the Catholic community in praying for them," he added. Relatives who want to check on their family graves, or anyone wishing to offer support, may contact Mount Olivet Cemetery at 202-399-3000 or at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1300 Bladensburg Rd., NE, Washington, DC 20002-1887.