Union and West End Cemetery

On Sunday April 16, Allentown experienced the destructive effects of a Nor'easter. One of the trees that was scheduled to be brought down for Arbor Day didn't wait. It literally exploded. Although much of the base of the tree is still standing, the upper part of the tree which had split into several different sections, came tumbling down, more or less. Two large portions fell heavily into Section M' of the West End portion of the cemetery, near twelfth street. Another portion fell in the opposite direction and would have been on the ground in Section L', but it got hung up in a tree across the road, creating a dangerous situation, as it was attached to the trunk by a sliver of bark.

A call went out to the Allentown Parks Department for assistance. The Parks Dept. had their own problems with trees throughout the park system, but they promised to bring the hanging limb down to the ground. Clean up will have to wait until next week.

Phtographs of the tree are shown below:









About five headstones were knocked off their pedestals, but were otherwise not damaged. These will be replaced once the tree is removed.