ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County lawmakers are about to seek the return of the “potter’s field” where impoverished Essex County residents were once buried.
Accurate records were not kept of how many people are in the county graveyard, but the site on Route 22 in Essex’s Whallonsburg hamlet is now privately owned.
Supervisor Ronald Jackson (R-Essex) said today that the county should take steps to get its potter’s field back.
“I think that whole field should be back in county hands and maintained. People (buried there) should be shown the respect they are due.”
The Bible has what is believed to be the first reference to a potter’s field, as “a burying place for strangers.” That burial ground was in the valley of Hinnom, which was a source of potter’s clay.
Jackson successfully had the County Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee vote this morning to have County Attorney Daniel Manning III try to get the property back.
A previous attempt to get the field back in 2006 was unsuccessful.
The paupers’ cemetery was associated with the old County Home across the road. The Essex County Home was built in 1832 and ceased operation as a county facility in 1981. The potter’s field was sold with the home in 1998.
“It (the cemetery) was sold, and I don’t even know if it was legal to sell it, but it was done,” Jackson said.
“It is now in disrepair. It was sold because the septic system for the County Home was there, but that’s not the case anymore. The system was moved.”
Jackson said the county is responsible for people who die in poverty and have no place to be buried, and there could be plots created for them in the old cemetery.
He said if the present owner won’t sell the burial site, the county should explore other means to secure its return. A state law makes municipalities responsible for abandoned cemeteries within their borders.
Jackson said the sale of the potter’s field may have been an error, since only the septic area could have been included.
“It slipped through. No one noticed it until it was signed, sealed and delivered.”
Supervisor Noel Merrihew III (R-Elizabethtown) said Manning will investigate and report back to the Board of Supervisors.
“We will initiate that review with the owner,” Merrihew said.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:
lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
Local News
Essex County to seek return of graveyard
- New Today
-
-
City fire call
Smoke in the basement at 11 Lorraine St. in Plattsburgh likely a dryer fire.
-
City fire call
- Local News
-
-
Former Plattsburgh man sentenced for killing wife
Frank Dore, 57, of Bridgeport, Conn., was sentenced in court last week to 28 years in prison after killing his wife, Patti Rothermel-Dore, in their Connecticut home in 2010.
-
Nicaragua students tour North Country health-care facilities
A pair of 20-year-old medical students from Nicaragua have toured several health-care facilities. They are especially impressed with the physician-patient relationship in America, along with the advanced technology.
-
Sex-crime cases
Five men recently appearing before the bench in Franklin County in separate incidents on charges involving rape, child porn and sexual contact with females as young as 6.
-
Essex County will fund Horace Nye environmental study
The $3,000 evaluation is part of the process of marketing and selling the money-losing Nursing Home in Elizabethtown.
-
Westport fire guts home
Teens escape early morning fire.
-
Peru School looks at relocating sixth grade
Parents and teachers are concerned by the possible change, which is being considered to cut costs.
-
Schools can exceed tax cap in some areas
BOCES business manager explains tax-cap-levy calculation.
-
Town hiring notice causes confusion
The Town of Malone's attempt to contract with an administrator for a business-loan program may not have followed state-grant guidelines.
-
County wants better work-hour tracking
Franklin County plans to get more out of its employee time-card system by tying it to payroll and eliminating cumbersome paper reports.
-
Child's death prompts Senate to pass new bill
Now in the hands of the Assembly, it would put teeth in the law when a licensed driver under the influence of alcohol is caught supervising another at the wheel.
-
Saranac Lake restaurant to reopen Saturday
Asian Buffet Hibachi and Sushi has been closed since a sprinkler system malfunctioned Dec. 19, 2011.
-
Skating, skiing highlight carnival today
Saranac Lake's showcase event continues through Sunday.
-
Cookbook Contest returns for second year
New crockpot category added to Press-Republican Recipe Contest.
-
Of Interest: Feb. 9, 2012
Common Council agenda planned out; Rouses Point Board working on budget.
- February 8, 2012
-
Schools can exceed tax cap in some areas
BOCES business manager explains tax-cap-levy calculation.
-
Westport fire guts home
Teens escape early morning fire. One called a hero for saving his sister.
-
Town hiring notice causes confusion
The Town of Malone's attempt to contract with an administrator for a business-loan program may not have followed state-grant guidelines.
-
Saranac Lake restaurant to reopen Saturday
Asian Buffet Hibachi and Sushi has been closed since a sprinkler system malfunctioned Dec. 19, 2011.
-
Former Plattsburgh man sentenced for killing wife
- Recent Article Comments
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
