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Junk, debris piled on gravesites in McKeesport cemetery

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — People who have loved ones in Fairview Cemetery in McKeesport are upset with the condition of the grave sites.

"The cemetery looks like a dump yard," said John Murphy, who told Channel 11 that when he posted pictures of his relative's final resting place to social media, he never expected to get such an immediate response.

"I was amazed at how many people who said, 'I have loved ones there' or 'I have loved ones there I can't find anymore,'" Murphy told

Channel 11’s Renee Kaminski

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He contacted Channel 11 because he said the cemetery is overgrown with junked cars and garbage on top of graves -- that is, for the ones you could still find.

"(I saw) headstones that have been busted when I was moving plywood to find my wife's grandmother, I found the headstone of a veteran," Murphy said. "I don't know if he's buried there, but I found the headstone covered with plywood. I thought that's another disservice."

Channel 11 went to the cemetery and found Melvin Provance, a man who initially denied owning the property, but then he admitted he inherited the job from his deceased father. Provance said the cemetery takes a lot of time and money to keep up.

"People say, 'Well your dad took care of it,'" Provance told Channel 11. "My dad was retired. He would sit out here, get on his tractor, and do his thing."

Provance had a crew there working Wednesday, and said the abandoned truck and the pile of debris are not on top of graves.

"This place hasn't made money. You know what this place does? It stops you from going on vacation," Provance said.

Provance also said he doesn't want to sell the cemetery. He invited those with loved ones here to come to the cemetery and help tend the grave sites.

 

Cox Media Group

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