Cemetery cleanup: Trustees need help maintaining historic cemetery Published in the Asbury Park Press 4/01/00 By KAREN HAMMERDORFER DELANCEYCORRESPONDENT In a race against time, trustees of the Mount Prospect Cemetery, Neptune, are looking for volunteers to clear away some of the undergrowth that has taken over a portion of the site. "Mother Nature is trying to take it over, but we're trying to take it back," said trustee Dawn Crawford, Neptune. The historic cemetery, located at the west end of Heck Avenue, dates back to 1881. It serves as the final resting place for more than 500 veterans, including two Revolutionary War Volunteer Patriots and 103 Civil War veterans. Ten trustees have been maintaining the cemetery for approximately eight years. Only half of them -- including David C. Jacobs, 64, Neptune City, who has five generations of family members buried at the site -- are able to perform the manual labor. Part of the cemetery is overrun by small but bothersome trees. Some of the headstones are barely visible beneath vines and ivy. By June, the trustees' major battle will be keeping up with cutting the grass on the 33-acre property. In contrast, the cemetery also includes a marble monolith, built by local millionaire Henry M. Bennett, of Neptune City, for his wife who died in 1892. The landmark, which features a view of the ocean, was used by ships as a navigational landmark. "I come here out of respect," said Crawford, whose husband Gary is president of the nonprofit group. There are about 50 families who have relatives buried in the cemetery and help with the upkeep. "But if the people buried here no longer have relatives to take care of their graves, their resting place should still look nice.' Crawford said that some organizations have objected to the fact that flags are kept at veterans' graves throughout the year, rather than for just a few weeks in May to commemorate Memorial Day. "We respect these veterans all year round. When the flags get frayed, we come right out and install a new one," she said. Crawford has undertaken the tedious task of establishing a database of those buried at the cemetery. It involves searching through old burial permits, most of which are hand-written, difficult to read and decayed. Two weeks ago she recovered the names of five veterans who served in the Colored Infantry during the Civil War; there are also two victims of the sinking of the Morro Castle some 66 years ago. To date, there are approximately 12,000 burials listed in the database. "We're bringing back the history," she said. Future projects include a meditation park and the installation of flag holders by Eagle Scouts. Crawford's own history with the cemetery dates back 25 years, when, as an art student, she made rubbings of some of the tombstones. "The maintenance man used to kick me out," she said. "I've always been intrigued by this place. It's a place to think. It's quiet. There's no hassles. Think of all the stuff that went on here. History is being regained here, and others that come to visit will walk away with a bit of history too." Crawford said that while vandalism played a role in the disturbance of some of the headstones in the past, it is not as prevalent today. "The ground is made of sand and rock. If a tombstone is on a hill, it will slide and fall over," she said. Twenty people from Earle Naval Weapons Station, Colts Neck, helped clear away some of the undergrowth and reset headstones yesterday. Some the headstones were so heavy that it took four men to slide them back in place. Seaman Latoya Colter cleaned off some of the dirt from the headstones. "I feel proud of what I'm doing. I know a family member might come out and feel good that we picked up their relative's headstone," she said. Anyone interested in helping maintain the cemetery can write to the Board of Trustees of Mount Prospect Cemetery, 404 Slocum Ave., Neptune, NJ 07753-3829; or visit the Web site http://homestead.juno.com/crawsat/mtproscem.html. Published on April 1, 2000 Copyright 1997-2000 IN Jersey.