Vandalism Found At Historic Monfort Burial Ground

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — A plaque honoring the earliest settlers interred in the historic Monfort Burial Ground was destroyed by vandalism sometime during the week of May 13.

The burial ground is situated up the hillside behind the post office at the intersection of Port Washington Boulevard and Main Street and was an active burial ground from at least 1737 to 1892. The plaque was located on the edge of the Schreiber High School property.

Town of North Hempstead Historian Ross Lumpkin noted that the vandalism was particularly painful because the burial ground contains the graves of 12 Revolutionary War patriots and the damage was done just prior to Memorial Day weekend.

"The Town of North Hempstead and Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society are working together to restore and preserve this historical burial ground, and vandalism is destructive and costly," Lumpkin said.

Monfort Burial Ground is a recognized town, state and national landmark. The plaque had been presented to the town in 2017 by the William C Pomeroy Foundation.

"We are working with the Pomeroy Foundation in the hopes that this marker may be repaired or
replaced and that someone who witnessed the event might come forward," said Chris Bain, President of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Port Washington Police Department.

The mission of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is to engage people of all ages in programs that highlight the lifestyles of the people and families that lived and worked on the peninsula throughout the years. Central to this mission is the preservation of the Sands Willets House (circa 1735) and the Thomas Dodge Homestead (circa 1721), which the Society operates as house-museums.