Seven grave markers were knocked over last week in Surrey Centre Cemetery.
The graves stones were nearly all one metre or taller in height and were in the pioneer section of the cemetery, where most graves are more than 100 years old.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 absolutely horrible,害羞草研究所� said Michael Gibbs, president of the Surrey Historical Society. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 understand why someone would do something like this.害羞草研究所�
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Sue Bryant, a member of the Surrey Historical Society, said she first heard about the vandalism April 26 through the 害羞草研究所淔riends of West Cloverdale害羞草研究所� Facebook page.
害羞草研究所淚 went up right away and took a bunch of photos,害羞草研究所� said Bryant. 害羞草研究所淪everal of the older headstones on the City side of the pioneer section of the cemetery were damaged.害羞草研究所�
Deeply saddened to see the damage caused by vandals at the Surrey Centre cemetery in the pioneer害羞草研究所檚 section. Some of these headstones were over a century old.
害羞草研究所� Surrey Historical Society (@SocietySurrey)
The damaged grave markers include families such as: McCallum, Elliott, Acorn, Wood, and others.
Bryant gives cemetery tours and is very familiar with the stories of the families that are interred in the graveyard.
害羞草研究所淭his is very sad, given some of the damaged headstones date back to the late 1800s, early 1900s, and at least two are of children less than a year old.害羞草研究所�
Bryant said the pioneer grave sites occupy a part of the graveyard that is somewhat secluded.
害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 see the area from any houses. I害羞草研究所檝e been there late at night and I害羞草研究所檝e seen a lot of people hanging out there.害羞草研究所�
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Bryant said the only other vandalism at Surrey Centre Cemetery that she can remember happened about 25 years ago.
害羞草研究所淚n the mid-90s, a big group of (gravestones) were vandalized.害羞草研究所�
Gibbs wondered if, given the profile of the pioneers, the historical value of the pioneer section, and its century-old markers, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 time for some more security.
害羞草研究所淚 think we need some cameras in here,害羞草研究所� noted Gibbs. 害羞草研究所淭his cemetery is part of our heritage.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淐emetery staff have started the process to repair the monuments which were vandalized last week,害羞草研究所� wrote Laurie Cavan in an email to the Cloverdale Reporter. 害羞草研究所�The contractor expects to have the repairs completed by the end of this week (May 1).害羞草研究所�
Cavan, the general manager of the Parks, Recreation, and Culture department, said the repair work will restore the grave markers in such a way that they害羞草研究所檒l retain their historic appearance.
害羞草研究所淭o prevent future vandalism, the repaired monuments will be fastened with a metal rod through the monument into its base,害羞草研究所� added Cavan. 害羞草研究所淚t is rare for historic monuments in Surrey to be defaced or damaged by acts of vandalism.害羞草研究所�
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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