Unless you’re in the cemetery business, you’re probably thinking, “Who cares?” However, as you will see, distressed cemeteries affect us all, in some way, shape, or form. (The photos I've included here are from cemeteries in other states, not Delaware.)
The most common fix an old cemetery can find itself in is that it is full, and can no longer accept burials. Therefore revenue comes to an end, as does the cemetery’s business. Except for one thing – the graves of those already interred need continual care. Even if the people who purchased the graves and PAID for continued upkeep, a cemetery may be hard-pressed to provide this long-term.
Forward-thinking cemeteries developed trust funds in which
the interest may provide enough money to pay for “perpetual care” of the grave.
Then again, it may not. If the annual cost of upkeep of a grave in 1866 cost
$6.00 per year and the perpetual care fee was $50, would you expect the
interest to continue to support the cost of upkeep through the year 2015?
Hardly. Which is one reason so many historic cemeteries find themselves in
difficult times.
Pennsylvania, for instance, has about 8500 cemeteries of
various sizes. Only about 1000 of them are active, meaning they still accept
burials. The other 7500 have to find other ways of paying for upkeep. With no
income, a cemetery can fall on hard times. Maybe it gets overgrown and
nasty-looking. Maybe it becomes a public nuisance, an eyesore, depressing
nearby property values. Maybe it invites crime and eventually the city
demolishes it. Perhaps the graves are moved to a larger, active cemetery,
perhaps not.
The state of Delaware is the only state that I am aware of
that has something called a Distressed Cemetery Fund. It’s purpose? Provide
money to keep up the appearance and care of cemeteries in need. This is every
bit as progressive as you would expect the “First State” to be. The fund is generally used for making needed repairs
and improvements, not for lawn maintenance expenses. (Click link to see application.)
So long as the cemetery is registered in the State of Delaware with the Division of Public Health of the Department of Health and Social Services, it can apply every two years for a grant of up to $10, 000. The Distressed Cemetery Fund is funded by adding $2.00 to the state fee for each copy of a certificate of death. Now get this for being progressive - A volunteer may register an abandoned cemetery! I know of two Friends groups that are associated with formerly abandoned Delaware cemeteries that have received the grant.
Unfortunately, most states do not have such a fund. Pennsylvania,
where many of the photos in this article were taken, does not have such a fund.
Why does Delaware bother? Why not just let the old cemeteries fall to pieces
like just about every other state? In answer to that, let me quote from the
State of Delaware’s official website:"Cemeteries are essential elements of societies' collective history, providing fascinating insight into past burial customs, religious beliefs, cultural and ethnic influences, community origins and development, and landscape design principles. Although virtually every remnant from the beginnings of a town or city may be lost, cemeteries often remain as some of the last tangible links to the past.
In Delaware, many prominent historical cemeteries such as Dover's John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Cemetery and Wilmington's Riverview Cemetery (maintained respectively by the Dover Air Force Base and the Friends of Historic Riverview Cemetery) have been preserved due to the efforts of governmental agencies, private organizations, and individuals. Other historical cemeteries, unfortunately, are vulnerable to the threats of neglect, vandalism, and development." - Department of State - Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
"CEMETERY RIPOFF IS GRAVE SITUATION - Vandalism funds go to
ease state budget (NY Daily News):"
"A bureaucratic form of grave-robbing is dishonoring the dead whose final resting places have been defiled by vandals, say furious cemetery officials across the city."
