Second Growth 'Forest' Hinders Cemetery Workmen
From "Rochester Democrat & Chronicle"
July 17, 1935

Workmen clearing up St. Patrick's Cemetery in Clinton Avenue South are finding it necessary to cut out dense underbrush before being able to work on the graves to be moved. [Above] group raising a tombstone, many of which have fallen.

Last Wishes of Irish Pioneer Doomed in Moving of Cemetery

Descendants of Ulysses McCarthy are wondering how family tradition can survive in this practical workaday world.

Mr. McCarthy died an unknown number of years ago, well before the turn at the century. He was about 80, a political exile from his native Ireland. Six feet two of Irish independence, he had in his youth fought with Wellington at Waterloo.

To his son, John for many years a well known business man in Rochester, Mr. McCarthy expressed a desire never to be moved from his final resting place in St. Patrick's Cemetery on Pinnacle Hill, a cemetery unused for 35 years.

Today John, three other sons and one daughter are dead. A grandson to whom the tradition had been handed down is also dead, as is the caretaker who for years trimmed the graves and tended the flowers on the grave,

The location of the grave itself is uncertain, say the three grand-children who survive: The Misses Corinne and Mary McCarthy, 502 Clay Avenue, and Eugene J. Dwyer, attorney, 3 Burke Terrace.

Ten days ago nearly a score of men began the task of burning off the underbrush, clearing the hilside cemetery in preparation for removal of the graves to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Lake Avenue. The work is sponsored by the St. Patrick's Society, to prevent further depredations on the 3,000 graves, which vandals have already robbed of many tombstones.

So far only about half of the site has been cleared. It will be another 10 days before work of moving the graves is started. Frank J. Taylor, superintendent of Holy Sepulchre, in charge of the project, said yesterday.

About 20 graves are also being sought by the workers because of requests of relatives who wish the remains put in family plots. All remains not we provided for will be put in one division of the cemetery.