MONROE, CT — Stepney Cemetery is the final resting place for many notable Monroe residents, including veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Volunteers from the Stepney Burial Ground Association work hard to maintain the grounds, a stone’s throw from the historic Stepney Green at the corner of Main and Pepper streets.
Kate Chase, the sexton in charge of the cemetery, said someone spray-painted graffiti on a shed in back of the property, an old building that recently had a new roof put on, as well as a fresh paint job.
The graffiti on the white clapboard shed has the word “Joker” twice in dark red paint, along with what appears to be drawings of male genitalia. Police said they received a vandalism complaint at 11:20 a.m. Friday.
“It’s a shame someone did that to an old building with new paint in a cemetery, and a very historic one at that,” Chase said, adding the shed is used to store tools. “It’s a very cool place. We have an association whose members volunteer their time to maintain the grounds. It hurts the community,” she said of the vandalism. “People enjoy that cemetery.”
Chase said the cemetery association plans to set up security cameras to deter future vandalism.
