Emmaus Cemetery and Why Cemeteries Are Vandalized

This particular cemetery that I focus on was part of the Second Street Evangelical Church on 2nd and Ridge Streets in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, USA. During the church's life there, it was the second oldest Evangelical denomination in Emmaus. It was in 1839 that the Reverend Charles Hesser travelled though Emmaus and preached the first Evangelical sermon for the town in the home of Charles Fehr. In 1840, the church was established and the Reverend George Haines became the first preacher. The church building itself wasn't built until 1845, which cost $1450.

The history of this cemetery is interesting. It adds to the local flavor of Emmaus. However, it isn't kept as well as you think it should be. Currently Bethany Methodist Church in Wescosville, PA, has the records and seems to be taking care of the cemetery. It isn't their fault that it isn't well kept. It's the people who vandalize it that compound the work for the cemetery care takers.

What makes a person vandalize cemeteries? That's a hard question to answer. I couldn't find any solid evidence online. I did find a lot of theories from different organizations. Texas Historical Commision mentioned that theft in cemeteries could be due to the need sell vintage items for profit. The other theory I found was people would tip gravestones because “they could get away with it.” Spray painting and defacing a tombstone is not just seen as graffiti but can also as a hate crime. It just depends on what is put on a stone.

And we can't forget about neglect. Why are graveyards abandoned and neglected? There are a bunch of possibilities. Money is one of them. Either the owner ran off with money or there was enough funds to keep up. A good example of neglect is Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It has been neglected for so long that the city had to step in. The city doesn't know for sure who owns the cemetery. One day, the office was closed.

However, this really isn't much we can do. Sure, we can call the police but by the time they police get there, the damage is done. Unless every cemetery will have a gate and cameras, it seems like we are loosing the war.

I shared a quote in April on this blog. It stated, "Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness, the tender mercies of its people, their loyalty to high ideals, and their regard for the laws of the land." That quote is powerful. Remember it when you walk or drive by a cemetery that is vandalized or forgotten.



Please check out my growing Photostream of Second Evangelical Church, Emmaus, PA to see more pictures of this cemetery and how the cemetery changes with every visit.