By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ronnie King (left) and Brian Jones work to install some of the stones toppled at United Jewish Cemetery on Wednesday. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

Work crews who routinely cut grass and trim hedges maneuvered among the graves of early Cincinnati settlers Wednesday, returning headstones to their rightful places at United Jewish Cemetery in Evanston.

Three weeks ago, vandals tipped over and broke about 38 gravestones at the historic Montgomery Road cemetery. Maintenance workers have managed to reset some of the toppled marble and sandstone markers.

But larger, heavier tombstones - some of which stand taller than 6 feet - will require the use of cranes and forklifts to upright.

Police have made no arrests, nor do they have any suspects. Cemetery officials think the vandalism is the work of two or three juveniles.

Superintendent Bill Riegel estimated the damage at more than $10,000. He said it is the first case of vandalism at the cemetery in nine years.

"It's discouraging to our staff who work so darned hard to keep (the cemetery) in good repair and looking nice for our families," Riegel said. "You just shake your head."

Started in 1850, the 10-acre United Jewish Cemetery contains the gravesites of Rabbi Isaac M. Wise and former Cincinnati Mayor Murray Seasongood, in addition to a number of pioneers. It is the largest of six cemeteries under the auspices of the United Jewish Cemeteries Association. A year ago, vandals kicked over 50 headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Price Hill.

Shattered marble monuments - some so heavy they made indentations in the ground when they fell - lay less than 20 yards from the front gate at the Evanston cemetery. Some stones were so old and weather-beaten that the names were barely readable.

A marker for Joseph Steinhau, who was born in Bavaria and died in 1886, lay separated from its foundation, broken into three pieces. Sandstone markers such as these are nearly impossible to repair, one groundskeeper said.

The nonprofit cemetery operates on a shoestring budget and can't afford security guards, watchdogs or motion sensors, Riegel said

"We have gates and fences, but all that will do is keep out the honest people," he said. Riegel said the cemetery would likely turn to its insurance company to cover the damages, but added any donations from the community would be appreciated. Even though the stones don't belong to them, Riegel said the cemetery's board feels an obligation to the families to keep the cemetery in good shape.

As for the culprits: "Unless somebody squeals about these kinds of things, you won't learn anything," said the 18-year veteran caretaker. "If people don't respect these memorials of the dead, how can we respect the property of the living?"

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