Beneath the Surface: Cemetery Remains at Center of Court Dispute

STEUBENVILLE -- At least five people have filed written objections with Jefferson County Probate Judge Frank Noble Jr. over plans by Woda Cooper Companies to disinter remains from the former Catholic cemetery atop Washington Street hill.

The letters ask Noble to require a "complete, transparent, scientifically sound, and dignified process" before allowing human remains to be disturbed or permanently removed, citing the cemetery's historical significance and legal protections afforded to burial grounds.

The cemetery, also known as "Jacksonville," "Leicy's Field" and "the Market Street Addition Cemetery," was established in the 19th century and served Steubenville's Catholic community. Local historians say newspaper records indicate hundreds of burials took place there before the cemetery was closed and the Mt. Calvary cemetery opened in 1883.

Woda plans to build affordable senior housing at the site. Construction was halted after workers discovered grave markers. An archaeological consultant subsequently found remains belonging to at least 12 individuals.

ASC Group, Woda's archaeological consultant, used ground-penetrating radar and identified 97 "grave-like anomalies," along with 14 additional anomalies visible in aerial imagery.

Woda's archaeological treatment plan calls for remains discovered at the site to be disinterred and reinterred at Mt. Calvary. The plan refers to the remains as "John Does."

Jefferson County businessman Smith, one of those objecting, questioned that designation, noting that remains associated with at least two identified individuals, Patrick Hargrove and his 2-year-old daughter, Bridget, were recovered intact. He also urged officials to preserve DNA samples from recoverable remains before reinterment.

Local historian Linda Hilty, another objector, said newspaper research uncovered references to 43 burials during the first 10 months of 1881. She said cemetery superintendent Ed Fitzsimmons reported reinterring 108 bodies at the end of 1883 but found no further documentation of the work.

Hilty said many of the surnames identified in historical records remain prominent in Jefferson County.

Flora VerStraten-Merrin, president of the Jefferson County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, called the cemetery "a piece of our early pioneer history" and urged officials either to respectfully reinter the remains or leave them undisturbed and preserve the site as a greenspace.

Diocese of Steubenville officials previously said they believed all remains had been moved to Mt. Calvary. Church officials have not said whether archives of the Diocese of Cincinnati or Diocese of Columbus have been searched for records of burials and reinterments.

ASC said any headstones or footstones discovered during the recovery process will be photographed, documented and stored pending a decision on their final disposition.

Noble has scheduled a pretrial conference with attorneys in the case. The conference is not open to the public.