We know from parish records that 574 people have been buried in the cemetery, however, we have approximately 160 gravestones in the cemetery at the current time.  How could of the grave markers disappeared? How is this possible?

There are a few reasons that we can identify:

The climate where the Pioneer Cemetery is located is a very harsh climate, with lots of wind, rain, snow and salt weakening most materials over the course of time. Below is an example of a rarely seen iron grave marker that fractured over the centuries.

Wooden crosses were a traditional way of marking graves, but exposure to the elements could leave them severely deteriorated within a few decades. We cannot know how many graves in the Pioneer Cemetery once had wooden markers, though some of today’s unmarked graves may originally have been marked this way. While visiting my grandfather’s grave in Souris, I was surprised to see older wooden crosses still standing. They are a reminder that many families in Eastern Kings struggled to make ends meet, and a permanent stone monument was an expense they could not always afford.

Sandstone gravestones tend to degrade seriously over time.  There are several in the cemetery at the current time, with a few in very good condition, but more often than not, these stones erode significantly over time.

Broken stones – Over time, many stones will crack and fall into serious disrepair.  During past restorations, which we know of occurring in the 1970’s, it is possible that many of these stones were moved from the present cemetery, or they may have simply sunk into the ground over the years.  During the recent restoration, many stones were found that were completely sunken into the ground!

Relocation to the current Parish cemetery – in the early 1900’s, with the opening of the new St. Margaret’s Parish Church, a new graveyard was established, and approximately 20 stones from this cemetery were moved to the current cemetery.