Mayfield cemetery slowly decaying

MAYFIELD Ky (KBSI) – A historic cemetery where families turn for closure and connection is damaged and decaying.

The mausoleum is a privately owned addition from the public part of the cemetery. Michael Jackson, a local from Mayfield says he can’t find his granddaughters tombstone which is just one of the issues families deal with here.

“My granddaughter passed away about 15- 20 years ago and we buried her here and I guess somebody buried someone on top of her because we can’t find the headstone.”

Highland Park Cemetry has been a burial place since 1869 with 250 acres and over 47 thousand burials. In the mausoleum the top of the ceiling is starting to decay. It looks like there is some form of construction as there are ladders and tools on scene.

Elizabeth Buck, a local, in Mayfield Kentucky says with her loved ones buried as well as others she thinks it’s a disgrace to see it go downhill.

“I think it’s a disgrace, I mean these are our loved ones that are buried out here and it’s just sad that they let it get in this condition.”

Buck says that the cemetery is Public, but the mausoleums are private. The mausoleums have been in many different hands and Buck just wants someone to restore what it once was.

“It’s my understanding that the city is responsible for everything but the mausoleums. The mausoleums are privately owned, and I don’t know who owns them at this point I think it’s been sold several times and it’s been this way for a long time, and I believe something needs to happen to take care of it.”

The mausoleum was taken care of independently by Jason Baker. We reached out to Baker for an interview, and he sent back a statement via text message.

Baker says that he spent 20 thousand dollars dealing with the structure and it’s time for someone else to take over.

Baker no longer lives in Kentucky and says he is no longer a part of any of the problems the mausoleum faces. The mausoleum is now in the city’s hands.