Vandals Knock Down Centuries-Old Headstones at Cemetery

Unknown vandals took to Newtown Village Cemetery sometime between December 6 and December 9, police say, toppling and breaking headstones that date back to to the early 1800s. 

Newtown Village Cemetery Association President Maureen Owen says a worker discovered the damage. Police responded to the scene December 11. At least ten headstones were damaged, says Owen; some were toppled over entirely, others broken in half on their bases.

"It's absolutely disturbing," said Owen. "The cemetery is sacred grounds, and they should be respected. It's sad and disgraceful what somebody did."

Because of their age, repairing the headstones may prove difficult.

"These stones are so old," she said, "I just need to start to making phone calls and getting estimates for a repair."

While the names on some stones were face-down and illegible, one headstone belonged to Anne M. Edmond (1804-1871), daughter of congressman William Edmond. Another belonged to Sarah Edmond Booth (1800-1864), wife of C. H. Booth Library namesake Cyrenius H. Booth. 

Sarah Edmond Booth's legacy lives on in modern times: in 1996, the library released a cookbook, taken from inscriptions in an old family notebook, and the century and a half-year-old meals were celebrated in the pages of the New York Times, The Hartford Courant and elsewhere. The cookbook won a special merit citation in the Tabasco Community Cookbook awards that year.

Each damaged stone is considered a Class C felony action, say police. Owen urges anyone with information to contact Officer Figol with the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

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