Union and West End Cemetery

At about 4:05 I received a text message sent to me and Barbara from Wendie indicating that someone that lives on 10th Street had reported a new sinkhole at 10th and Gordon. At 4:15 p.m. I was walking out the door on my way to the cemetery.

When I drove north from Hamilton on 10th street, I encountered a Police vehicle blocking 10th Street to traffic. I proceeded to the back gate and entered the cemetery from Poplar Street and proceeded to 10th and Gordon. Several Police Officers were on scene and I had a ring side seat to the sink hole.

Other than the three officers no one else from the city was on scene, it being a Saturday afternoon. The first official on scene was Mayor Ed Pawloski, much to his credit.

The sink hole, which was approximately 3 feet in diameter, was pretty much centered on Gordon Street at the intersection with 10th Street. It was about even with the sidewalk curbing on 10th Street. In other words it did not protrude into 10th Street.

Several officers I spoke to indicated that the hole appeared to be about 8 feet deep with an underground diameter of approx. 10 feet. When the City engineer arrived he pretty much confirmed the dimensions and indicated that he did not deem it a serious situation.

He informed me that the plan was to cover the hole with a large metal plate. Gordon Street would remain closed from the alley to 10th Street. Tenth street would be open to traffic but blockades would be erected to prevent vehicles from turning onto Gordon Street. Excavation is planned for early Monday morning. With that pronouncement I locked down the cemetery and went home arriving about 6 p.m.

Photos of the new sink hole are shown below:

Take note that the Mayor is wearing white pants and a green shirt. The principal City engineer on site is wearing a bright red shirt.

The City engineer assures us that the problem is relatively minor and they will excavate until they locate the core and then they will fill the hole with grout. It should be noted that this sink hole is north and east of the 2010 sink hole.

Let's pray that the City engineer is correct!

Blog post created by Everette Carr, President of the Union and West End Cemetery Association.