Descendants and advocates are sounding the alarm after what they describe as widespread sinking and collapse of graves at the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemetery in Wauwatosa following recent flooding. Volunteers and family members walking the site say they are finding uneven turf, deep holes and long rows of slumped soil that make the cemetery hazardous for visitors and researchers. The worst damage appears to be concentrated in unmarked and pauper burials that advocates say are already too easy to overlook and deserve far more dignified care.
Advocates describe severe damage on site
Members of the Descendant Community of Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries told reporters the County Grounds had been submerged during the storms and that weakened wooden coffins appear to have failed, destabilizing rows of graves. Judy Klimt Houston, a leader with the group, said some graves have sunk by as much as 10 to 20 inches and warned “they’re all collapsing,” as reported by TMJ4.
Who is pressing for answers
The Descendant Community…..