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Community Corner

Somber Rededication Ceremony Held at Hendrickson Burial Ground

Supporters gather in solidarity with family members to honor Hendrickson ancestors, and to look ahead to restoration of the historic cemetery.

Descendants of one of Holmdel's original families gathered with friends in the late winter chill to witness the formal rededication of the destroyed Hendrick-Hendrickson Burial Ground Cemetery in Holmdel.

The 300-hundred year old cemetery is a private family burial ground on a one-acre plot of land located within the Beau Ridge Townhouse Development at S. Laurel Ave and Beau Ridge Dr. in Holmdel.  The mood among the 3 to four dozen attendees was respectful and somber.

“The purpose of this ceremony is to rededicate the Hendrickson Family cemetery and to formalize the start of its reconstruction,” said Arthur J. Rittenhouse, vice president of the Hendricks and Hendrickson Family Association of Monmouth County NJ.

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Family representatives were on hand to honor their ancestors and mark their graves with temporary crosses and flags.

“Over the next year we will begin to reconstruct the cemetery as closely as possible with the help of historical records and photographs, many of them in private collections," said Rittenhouse.

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“Researching and restoring the historic inscriptions will entail a lot of work,” he said. He asked that anyone who has photographs of the cemetery, even from afar, should contact him at ritt1@aol.com or (732) 525-3208.

The Hendrickson Association recently acquired 501(c) 3 status and is hoping for donations and volunteers to sift through the research.

In July and August of 2010, the Board of Directors of Beau Ridge Townhouse Development contracted to remove the original grave markers and replace them with flat granite plaques. Approximately 50 tombstones were destroyed and removed. Only ten of the original gravestones remain.

The association's board president at the time of the incident, Ed Elzner, said Monday that he has been advised by counsel not to comment on the issue while the Monmouth County Prosecutor reviews the case. 

Dr. Andrew A. Hendricks, the president of the Hendricks-Hendrickson Family Association of Monmouth County, NJ was gratified by the community turnout but less than sanguine about the ultimate outcome of restoration.

“We have substantial damages here to our family,” said Hendricks, “and even if we restore the gravestones and try to undo the damage, what is it worth? These stones were hundreds of years old, it's not right what was done. What is the value of a restored stone?”

According to Hendricks, the Family Association is looking into what to do next. Their research has uncovered alleged zoning violations of encroachment into the private one-acre cemetery by the Beau Ridge Association. "The burial ground has its own block and lot and is not part of Beau Ridge even though it is inside the development," said Rittenhouse. 

“We've asked the Holmdel Planning Board to explain why the cemetery's boundaries weren't enforced,” said Hendricks. “Someone approved these buildings and these walkways, I don't know how the buildings get cleared for construction. No one in an official capacity seems to know either.”

For other Hendrickson family members, there is only sadness and a sense of frustration. Claire Hendrickson Waltsak, of Tinton Falls, learned about the cemetery's destruction through the media.

“I didn't know what to do,” she said. “I was angry, and I didn't know who to talk to about it. They [the Beau Ridge Board of Directors] just did what they did without asking anyone. They didn't talk to the Historical Society, not Monmouth County, no one. They just took it upon themselves.”

Cheryl and Robert Hendrickson, of Wall, also read about the destruction of the gravestones in the news and share the sadness, anger, and sense of betrayal of other family members.

“I'd like to see the cemetery put back together as well as can be and I'd like access to be able to visit my ancestors here,” said Claire Hendrickson. “I'm surprised that the Homeowners Association didn't take this place as a focal point, a point of pride in their community and make it beautiful rather than destroy it.”

“An apology, that would be nice,” all three family members agreed.

A short prayer service was performed by Pastor Tamas Devecseri of Old Brick Reformed Church of Marlboro, which was founded by two of the people buried in the cemetery. At the conclusion service, former Eagle Scout John Ronald Myatt, 18, from Sayerville, played “Taps.”

Committeeman Larry Fink said he came to pay his respects to the Hendrickson family and their forebears. “This cemetery and many other burial grounds like it in Holmdel are precious places that not only remind us of our history and honor the dead who are buried there, but give us a sense of purpose and direction and inspiration,” he said, to the assembled group. 

Rittenhouse noted that while she was unable to attend, Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso sent a letter of support to the family. He acknowledged the help he has received from the entire Township Committee.

According to Hendrickson family documents, the Hendrickson Cemetery was created in the 1690s, the earliest days of Holmdel's history by Daniel and William Hendrickson.  Many of Daniel's descendants adopted the name  "Hendrickson" while William's descendants took the name "Hendricks."  Daniel Hendrickson's grandson Hendrick, is also buried in the cemetery.  Hendrick's home and that of his daughter are preserved by the Monmouth County Historical Association as the Holmes-Hendrickson House and Longstreet Farm.

Georgette Wall, 9, of Beau Ridge, who first noticed the wrecked cemetery on a walk, summed up what many were feeling.

“I just want peace,” said Wall, “I want the people who are buried here to have peace.”

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