Oakwood Uses Fencing To Deter Vandals
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Fencing and barbed wire have cut down on vandalism at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
"Last week we had 10 stones knocked down," said sexton David Shaw, "and we just reset them. I think it was done by kids who can't cut through the cemetery to the beach because of the barbed wire."
Neither cemetery officials nor the city, which owns the grounds, is responsible for theft or damage caused by vandals or storms. Shaw said there is a disclaimer of liability signed by lot owners.
"If we break them, we're responsible, of course. If a tree falls on a stone, we remove the tree and repair (the stone). The old ones I rerod and repair."
He said property owners' insurance ought to cover contemporary monuments but probably not a marker for a great-great-grandfather.
Acts of vandalism on the 200-plus-acre cemetery come and go. Shaw said nothing can happen for three to four years and then little things will happen all the time.
"For two summers I constantly had to replace the spotlights at the main entrance. There's a rock garden there. There are boys in the neighborhood. It's a natural combination. I don't know if they just grew up or what but the lights aren't busted out anymore.
"Another year the American flag was stolen on a regular basis.
"Really, we don't have much trouble out here and it could be a lot worse." [[In-content Ad]]
Fencing and barbed wire have cut down on vandalism at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
"Last week we had 10 stones knocked down," said sexton David Shaw, "and we just reset them. I think it was done by kids who can't cut through the cemetery to the beach because of the barbed wire."
Neither cemetery officials nor the city, which owns the grounds, is responsible for theft or damage caused by vandals or storms. Shaw said there is a disclaimer of liability signed by lot owners.
"If we break them, we're responsible, of course. If a tree falls on a stone, we remove the tree and repair (the stone). The old ones I rerod and repair."
He said property owners' insurance ought to cover contemporary monuments but probably not a marker for a great-great-grandfather.
Acts of vandalism on the 200-plus-acre cemetery come and go. Shaw said nothing can happen for three to four years and then little things will happen all the time.
"For two summers I constantly had to replace the spotlights at the main entrance. There's a rock garden there. There are boys in the neighborhood. It's a natural combination. I don't know if they just grew up or what but the lights aren't busted out anymore.
"Another year the American flag was stolen on a regular basis.
"Really, we don't have much trouble out here and it could be a lot worse." [[In-content Ad]]