Delaware County in our capacity as caretaker of the Poor House Cemetery on Arbor Hill Road in Delhi, embarked on a multi-phased project to restore this significant public space more than ten years ago. The first steps were to regain ownership and control of the property, clear away decades of overgrowth and debris and bring the property back to a condition that can be maintained for public use. The efforts of a handful of county employees and volunteers resulted in a small kiosk to identify the space and a monument that has been erected to memorialize the significance of this cemetery.
Over the past few years, the County Historian has been charged with developing a plan to restore this site, memorializing its history, and paying tribute to the souls that are buried on this property. A small committee was formed to assist in this effort which included the County Historian, the County Fiscal Affairs Director, the Director of Building and Grounds, and a legislative representative from the Planning, Recreation and Culture Committee. With the Historians guidance and knowledge, the county purchased granite grave markers to identify the location of the graves that had become visible due to ground sinks which developed over time. This past March the committee determined for the safety of the public and the long-term preservation of the graves a plan to fill in the graves and install the markers needed to be developed and implemented over the course of this spring and summer. The Delaware County Board of Supervisors supported this schedule and effort by allocating $50,000 as seed money to begin the required work.
After careful marking and mapping of the gravesites the project was progressed to fill in the sinking graves to protect and preserve the contents as well as make the site walkable for the public. During this process the Delhi historian, Marianne Greenfield, was led to believe this site was being desecrated by the County instead of preserved. As a dedicated historian and a community member familiar with the site and history of the cemetery she took to Facebook and aired her grievance with the County in a very public way. This posting created a great deal of controversy and led to a press release from the County that corrected the misinformation. Ultimately the video that ignited this controversy was removed from public view. Ms. Greenfield has since admiringly admitted to having spread misinformation on behalf of a friend. However, unlike her colleague, the County Historian proceeded to reach out to social media and other media outlets vilifying Pete Montgomery, Director of Building and Grounds and Delaware Bulldozing, who was hired to complete the very important work of filling the graves as a first step in a long-term preservation project.
Delaware County would like to publicly apologize to Pete Montgomery who was acting in his capacity and at the directive of Delaware County to oversee this important construction project. He did not at any time disrespect or desecrate any of the graves in the Poor house cemetery. He was directed to do a job and he did it to the best of his ability while keeping in mind the delicate nature of the work. Pete is a conscientious and valuable employee that understands the importance of his job in serving the general public of Delaware County. The commentary that has undermined his role and attacked his character and professionalism should be disregarded.
Furthermore, Delaware County would like to apologize for the unfair and untrue commentary about Delaware Bulldozing. The negative light that this local company has been painted with is not the opinion of Delaware County. In fact, they were hired by the county to do a job, which they did professionally, considerately and with the greatest respect possible. As a local business they have proven to be a dependable, professional and a reliable resource to any person or company that hires them.
It is regretful that this misinformation has cast such a negative light on such an admirable project and those attempting to fulfill the wishes of the county board of supervisors. It is unfortunate that the words of one person has spread through social media and tarnished the character of valuable county employee, a professional local business and a project that is near and dear to so many of our local community members.
