Workers turn up 19th century graves at Oneida school

Tools

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Jul 3, 2009 at 11:02 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 3, 2009 at 12:38 PM EST

ONEIDA, N.Y. (AP) - Officials say a crew digging to an underground oil tank behind an elementary school unearthed an 19th century cemetery.

Police were called to the site behind the Willard Prior Elementary School on Thursday after the crew dug up a headstone, a second partial headstone and some human bones.

Oneida City Police Chief David Meeker says he's talking to the Division of Cemeteries for New York State about what to do next.

Authorities say the headstone was that of Richard Emerson, who died in 1849 at age 57.

A local historian says the site was a community cemetery between 1841 and 1875. In time, the cemetery fell into complete disrepair. It eventually was turned into a park before becoming the site of a school building.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Utica Weather

Icon
Current Temp 17.0 °F
Overcast
More Weather

AP Video

Stock Quotes

Permanent Client link holder

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's On