Need to find out who is in charge of certain cemetery to return missing headstone. Weird, I know

Going through the basement of a relative, we came across a headstone.  The name on this headstone is unique, so it was very easy to find that it is supposed to be in the Williamsville-Moshure Cemetery in Vernon, New Jersey.  Being an older cemetery (this was a soldier in the revolutionary war) I doubt there is an office on site.  Looking online I'm finding nothing.  Looking at Find A Grave someone actually cared enough to put up a wood marker for this guy after his headstone was taken, and even put a flag there too because he was a veteran.  So *someone* is obviously taking care of the place, and knows where his stone should be.  I don't want to just dump it off, and I worry that if I just arrive unannounced with a headstone in my trunk they might mistakenly think I'm taking it and not returning it, so I'd like to contact someone and coordinate returning this thing to where it belongs.

The best I can find from google is the Sussex Co Historical Society.  

You have the weirdest questions.

I think Sussex Historical Society would be able to help. If not, I am in touch with a group of Am Rev re-enactors who surely would be interested in helping. They are legit, do living history events at NY Historical Society, Liberty Hall, etc. and memorialize members of their original regiment (3rd New Jersey) when appropriate.

Although I used to live in Soma for 30 years, I moved to Sussex County 5 years ago when I retired. I became involved with the Sussex County Historical Society and I serve as a trustee. I am involved with the care and maintenance of the Old Newton Burial Ground. Let me search and see if I can find someone in Vernon who might be custodians for the Williamsville-Moshure cemetery. How heavy is the stone? Can two people carry it? Give me a few days to try and find someone from Vernon.

Be prepared to answer some questions. People just don’t collect headstones. 

Cemeteries are regulated in New Jersey, as you’d expect. I found this reference online. You could try contacting them and maybe learn who is maintaining your cemetery.

New Jersey Cemetery Board
124 Halsey Street
P.O. Box 45036
Newark, New Jersey 07101
(973) 504-6553

Jaytee said:

Be prepared to answer some questions. People just don’t collect headstones. 

 Very eccentric family member, and that is me trying to be polite and sensitive to the situation 

wedjet said:

Although I used to live in Soma for 30 years, I moved to Sussex County 5 years ago when I retired. I became involved with the Sussex County Historical Society and I serve as a trustee. I am involved with the care and maintenance of the Old Newton Burial Ground. Let me search and see if I can find someone in Vernon who might be custodians for the Williamsville-Moshure cemetery. How heavy is the stone? Can two people carry it? Give me a few days to try and find someone from Vernon.

 It isn’t large, and is also in two pieces (that happened prior to the family member taking it, the headstone does appear in a book circa 1970 in two pieces).  I can easily transport it, I just want to make the proper connections prior to bringing it up there so if I get stopped assumptions aren’t made about why I have a headstone

kthnry said:

You have the weirdest questions.

 Yep, I know.  My family is weird 

I was writing the original question when the Curious George cartoons popped into my head, specifically the fire department who when responding to George’s antics always say “Why don’t we get any normal calls?”

I was able to contact a few people who volunteer at the cemetery.  Originally they were going to accompany me to return the stone, but then they contacted another volunteer who is with the DAR (please save that debate for another thread, I’m simply here to discuss the returning of the headstone) and that person has multiple contacts and will have the stone repaired and then properly reset.

The stone had broken in two, a local history book from 1970 shows it laying on the ground in two pieces, so I know the damage pre-dated it being taken. 

The area is surrounded by new housing, mostly from the early 90’s, so we’re thinking they may have mistakenly thought the cemetery was going to be erased a la the cemetery on Valley St where stones were removed and replaced with a single marker.  Don’t even get me started on my feelings about that   

But in this case the cemetery was actually untouched by the development, and there was no need to worry.  Zenus Riggs, a veteran of the American Revolution, will soon have his original headstone, properly repaired, at his gravesite again instead of the wooden marker that has been there for the past few decades.  I’m glad I was able to help set this right.

Though there is a new mystery, his wife’s stone is also missing, and we only found one.  I suggested probing the ground as if it has been laying flat since the 1970’s (last known picture) then it may actually be under the dirt by now. 

This is the most interesting thread I have read in quite a while. Thank you. 

GoSlugs said:

This is the most interesting thread I have read in quite a while. Thank you. 

 You're welcome

I heard from someone else today, the first contact gave the stone to the second contact.  They are in the process of cleaning and repairing the stone.  Once that is done they will replant it in the cemetery.  I will update with a picture of the restored and replaced headstone once it is completed. 

The pictures below are from Find A Grave, which is where I was able to find the location of the cemetery.  Though having such a unique name helped.  If he were John Smith it might have been next to impossible to return the headstone.