CLEARFIELD – The fate of Crown Crest Cemetery in Hyde has been on the minds and hearts of residents for several years now, with people approaching Clearfield County and Lawrence Township about the maintenance and care of the property.
This past weekend, the township and county joined forces to call for volunteers to come and help ready the cemetery for Memorial Day, with people mowing, trimming, raking and so on. But that leads to the question of, what happens next with the cemetery?
The Lawrence Township Supervisors addressed this during Tuesday’s meeting after a 20-minute executive session for potential legal matters.
Technically, Edmund Grenier is still the owner of the cemetery. Grenier is serving a lengthy prison sentence for not delivering grave markers to his clients. Legally, Crown Crest hasn’t been declared abandoned, but for all intents and purposes, it is.
The supervisors noted that among the many problems found this past Saturday, many graves were not covered properly or seeded.
The township and county are working with local funeral homes and Cutera-Hile Memorial Center and others with information to ensure those who have plots can use them when the time comes.
Additionally, the supervisors voted to set up a checking account for donations to help with upkeep at the cemetery. Anyone who would like to make a donation should send checks or money orders to the township at 45 George St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
Solicitor James Naddeo emphasized that the township is not taking over the cemetery and has no legal obligation to do so, nor is the township in any way responsible for plots, burials, stones, etc.
Instead, the township and county are working together to keep the property mowed and trimmed, with the help of volunteers, and the supervisors ask anyone who can help to chip in to care for the cemetery.
Meanwhile, Naddeo said he will be looking into what needs to take place to have the property put up for tax sale.
If someone were to acquire the cemetery now, it would come with many liens. If the property goes up for judicial tax sale, the title would then be clean.
“There are a lot of things to take into consideration here,” Naddeo said, “There are a lot of hoops to jump through.”
The supervisors warned residents that if anyone calls or comes to your door asking for donations for Crown Crest Cemetery, they are not representing the township and the solicitation is likely a scam.
Another work day is scheduled at the cemetery on June 1 beginning at 9 a.m. Those coming to help should bring whatever tools they can, including mowers, trimmers, shovels, rakes, etc.
