Hidden Cemeteries of Moraine a Halloween-season hit
BRADY TWP — Halloween and history go really well together. Just ask the roughly 75 people who turned out for the Hidden Cemeteries of Moraine program Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Jennings Environmental Education Center.
Moraine State Park, which officially opened in 1970 and spans nearly 17,000 acres, is known for camping, hiking, hunting, swimming in Lake Arthur and other recreational activities. But Lake Arthur is man-made, and several of the properties purchased around the area to make the lake contained burial plots.
At Wednesday night’s event, residents had the chance to learn about the nearly forgotten residents through historical documents.
“These stones have seen many things in their time,” said Joi Geyer, a local historian. “Some of them have seen transition from remote wilderness to prosperous farms and homes, and then back again into isolated parklands.”
In the forgotten burials of Moraine State Park, seven cemeteries, belonging to one family each, are known to hold nearly 40 individuals: Snyder Cemetery, McCandless Cemetery, Shaffer Cemetery, Davis Cemetery, Book/Negley Cemetery, McBride Cemetery and Roberson-Jobe Cemetery.
Through historical documentation such as land claims, census data, old newspaper articles and family trees, we know that the burials span 160 years, from 1803 to 1965, Geyer said. Those buried range from infants to grandparents who lived into their 80s.
Unique stories can be traced back to those buried. This includes a son of the Snyder family who stayed in America to avoid being drafted into the French Army, as well as those in the McCandless Cemetery being distantly related to the founders of modern-day McCandless Township in Allegheny County’s North Hills.
And yes, the “forgotten cemeteries” are known to be subject of tales that they are haunted, Geyer said.
“What people should keep in mind is that respect is due in all cemeteries. These were living people like you and I, as well as important members of their communities and families,” Geyer said.
The presentation was highlighted during a monthly meeting of the Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission (3MJC), a nonprofit supporting the local parks and environmental group.
Stacie Williams, a member of the organization’s executive board, said this was the largest turnout for a 3MJC meeting this year.
In addition to the fun of learning more about potentially haunted cemeteries and other local lore for Halloween, Geyer highlighted the importance of keeping history alive — keeping the “nearly forgotten” not forgotten.
“Share stories. Ask for stories, too,” Geyer said.
