Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-28
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM
bodies Won't be FOrcibly Removed
From the Troy Hill Cemetery.
OTHER LOTS WILL BE EXCHANGED.
A Chance to Sell the Old German Grave
yard for Good Price.
FATHER WERNER EXPLAINS HIS PLANS.

Quite acontroversy has been raised among
the old German Catholic families of this
city over an item concerning the removal of
the bodies in the old Troy Hill Cemetery in
Allegheny City. The cemetery has been in
existence for 40 years, and was the only one
in early DAYS for the use of German Cath
olics. 1t was laid out by the Redemptorist
Society, who have recently consecrated a
new burial ground on the Perrysville road.
The society desires to have all the bodies
now lying in the old burial ground removed
to the new cemetery. Ii this is done they
will sell the ground.
A number of relatives of persons who
were buried there, became quite excited
when they read the report. They thought
the society would force the removal of the
bodies and confscate the old monuments. A
number of them called upon the officials of
the order, and asked for information about
it. Some of them looked up the law cover
ing such cases, and if necessary, said they
would take legal steps to prevent the re-
moval of the bodies
CONSENT OF LOT OWNERS.
About four years ago the Twelfth Ward
School Board became engaged in a law suit
with the lot owners of the old Lawrence
vile Cemetery. The courts decided that
the ground and monuments belonged to the
lot owners and the latter would have to give
their consent before the graves could be dis
turbed.
Father Werner, rector of st. Philomena's
Church, which belongs to the Redemptor-
lists, was absent from the city at the time the
information was given by one Of the priests
connected with the church. In an interview
last night with Father Werner, the reverend
gentleman said:
sit is correct that we are desirous of re-
moving the bodies from the Troy Hill Gene
terry to the new burial ground on the Perrys-
vile road. The sooner it is done the quicker
we will be able to complete the new ceme-
tery. We would be able to dispose of the
Troy Hill property to advantage. 1t has
been asserted, however, that the clergy of
this church would enforce the removal of
bodies Immediately. We will not force any
person to exhume their dead, but we have
advised our people to exchange their pres
ent lots in the Troy Hill Cemetery for others
in the new one on the PerrysvilIe road.
Our oyertures in every instance were fair.
A FAIR OFFER MADE.
''If family held lot on Troy Hill. say
Sx10 feet, for which they paid $14 to $25, we
offer them in exchange a lot 9x1S feet
valued at $50. We do not ask them for one
cent, although the difference is considerable.
In cases where the present owners of lots
have paid $50 and upward for their ground
on Troy Hill, we will give lots in the new
cemetery equal in worth. In justice to the
congregation we could not make any more
liberal offer, nor do l think our people
would ask more from us.
'In regard to the removal of monuments,
some people believe that we intend to take
peremptory measures to have them re-
moved. This is not SO. No one can take
the monuments from the ground without my
orders, and have not the least
intention to do anything unjust in the mat
ter. We want it to be distinctly understood
that all persons removing their dead friends
will take with them the headstones. If the
bodies are taken away and the monuments
left, after an elapse of a given period of
time, in which due notice has been served
on the owners of the same, we will appropri-
ate the crosses and other emblems that are
left and donate them to the poor of the
parish, charging them with the cost of re-
modelling and remaining them.
"Al the late parishioners who are in
TERED in single graves will, on the request
of their friends, be transferred to the Per-
rysville cemetery without cost to them
selves. The expenses will be betrayed by
the church. If relatives of persons in single
graves on Troy Hill desire lot in the new
burial ground a deduction will be made to
them from the price of the lot according to
the value of the single grave"