Headstones repaired at Hillside Cemetery after early summer vandalism

LACONIA — Drivers on Mechanic Street last month may have noticed headstones lining the front of Hillside Cemetery were knocked over or damaged. Thanks to a tip to authorities, and the work of a local "stone guru,” Parks and Recreation Director Amy Lovisek was happy to report they are all fixed, and upright again.

“It was mostly stones knocked over,” Lovisek said. “It wasn’t super recent, but we got it fixed. We aren’t stone masons, so we leave it to the professionals who have the proper equipment and materials.”

According to Chief Matt Canfield, city police received a report on Aug. 29, of vandalism in the cemetery. Officer Parker Normand counted 10 headstones damaged. Police have not charged anyone in connection with the vandalism. 

The total cost of the repairs was $720, which included “re-standing” eight monuments along the front of the cemetery, and sealing them back in. Two of the headstones were broken and were repaired with epoxy, Lovisek said.

At the left side of the cemetery there was also one monument which needed re-standing, and one was broken and fixed with epoxy.

The city maintains eight cemeteries, which are all inactive and normally very quiet. However, there are times when stones get knocked down or damaged, and Lovisek said her team calls upon Charlie Beede of Beede Cemetery Lettering for the work. Lovisek said he performed the recent repairs.

Lovisek said there is a $5,000 budget line in city expenditures to maintain the cemeteries, and this was used to fund the needed stonework. The money is typically used for maintenance, stone repair, tree removal and equipment purchases to tend to city cemeteries.

Lovisek said people are no longer being buried in the cemetery, and most who visit the site are “history buffs or doing a genealogy report.” The headstones in question were from the 1800s, as are most of the monuments in the cemetery.

She said the vandalism most likely occurred at the beginning of the summer, but was not repaired until September, due to Beede’s availability.

Laconia Police Dispatcher Alexandria Copp checked logs dating back to June 1, and did not see any other reports.

Lovisek said on Wednesday there has not been any other cemetery vandalism since this was reported.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who witnesses cemetery vandalism or sees broken or fallen headstones, should call the Laconia Police Department at 603-524-5252.