Old Lorimier vandalism worse than first thought

~ It is uncertain where the money will come from to make repairs to the historic tombstones.

Costs to repair the 69 damaged headstones at Old Lorimier Cemetery will be much more than originally thought.

Originally estimated at $15,000, costs are now expected to reach $40,000 to $60,000, said Terri Foley, a historic preservation consultant who volunteered to document the damage.

"Right now, there is no money" for the repairs, Foley said, and the city was not prepared for such extensive damage. Money for repairs will have to be generated from grants and local contributions.

Furthermore, future funding for Cape Girardeau's historic cemetery could be affected by last weekend's vandalism. The city hopes one day a grant will become available to help restore the cemetery. Because of the vandalism, the city will have to ask for $100,000 more than originally thought.

Each damaged headstone must be photographed and cross-referenced with the cemetery's survey map in order to confirm the names and locations of the graves. Foley and Brenda Schloss with the city's planning department started the work on Thursday and will likely finish it next week, Foley said.

With about 1,450 marked graves, many of the headstones bear scars from previous repairs or remain shattered. Each headstone costs at least $600 to repair, depending on the extent of damage and the type of stone it is made of, Foley said.

The cemetery was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 28. Foley and Schloss wrote the nominations. Few cemeteries have been named to the registry, so the government agency likely views Old Lorimier Cemetery to be significant to the community, Foley said.

The city applied for its first grant in August, which will be used for headstone restoration training and a specialist for assessing costs associated with cemetery improvements. The grant would also provide a radar that will help locate unknown burials. It is estimated that 5,000 people may be buried there.

The cost estimates obtained by that grant will be used when the city applies for future grants for actual restoration. Due to the damage costs of vandalism, Foley said the city will likely request up to $100,000 more than originally planned, which drives up the competition.

Foley said she hopes future funding will enable the city to install a taller fence, more security lights and security cameras. The cemetery is surrounded by a 6-foot chain link fence with barbed wire at the top.

Many of the headstones date back to the early 1800s. Names and dates are faded with age and caked with moss. Grant funding will enable individuals to clean them, restoring marble to gleaming white and gray. Bronze will be polished and sandstone will be better protected from weathering.

Losses from the damages exceed $5,000 which makes it a class C felony that carries up to seven years in prison.

Investigations are ongoing and no suspects have been arrested, said officer Ike Hammonds. Crime Stoppers is offering an reward for up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 335-6611 or CrimeStoppers at 332-0500.

jmetelski@semissourian.com