Houlton grave marker to be restored

    HOULTON, Maine — The gravestone of Joseph Houlton will soon be back to its rightful spot, looking better than ever.
Houlton Cemetery Superintendent Milton Cone said he was currently working to repair the gravestone. The white marble stone was no longer attached to its base and simply buried with about 18 inches of the marker underground, which allowed the vandals to remove the marker.
    “Before it was stolen, the stone was actually broken at the ground level,” Cone said. “Years ago, someone took iron straps and bolted the two pieces together, but those had failed. I am in hopes that we will be able to repair it and pressure wash it to return in to its original state.”
On Friday, a cement base was poured at the gravesite. Once that base has cured, cemetery officials will drill the marker into the new base
As a result of information received from the Houlton Police Department’s anonymous tipline last week, Detective Kris Calaman recovered the stolen headstone Sept. 18 in a swampy area located near the Hollywood Road in Hodgdon.
Four individuals were summoned for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, which is a class D crime. Charged were Leonard Devoe, 18, Earl Little Jr., 22, and Brian Devoe, 28, all of Houlton; and Jeremy Skura, 23, of Hodgdon.
Police indicate that Skura, Leonard Devoe, Brian Devoe and Little Jr. were consuming alcohol and partying in the Evergreen Cemetery Wednesday night. Police were unclear which individual came up with the idea of stealing the gravestone. After it was taken, the suspects placed the stone in a vehicle and transported it to Skura’s residence in Hodgdon.
The next day, when Skura discovered the headstone in his possession, he panicked and drove to the swamp on the Hollywood Road, according to police. He reportedly removed the stone from his vehicle, walked approximately 15 feet into the swamp and discarded the property into the water.
Police escorted Skura back to the swamp on the afternoon of Sept. 18 and had him retrieve the stolen property.
The gravestone marking the final resting place of Joseph Houlton was discovered missing by cemetery maintenance employees on the morning of Sept. 6.
After conferring with the maintenance employees, police theorize the marker was stolen between Sept. 4-6. Houlton founded the town that bears his name in 1807.