After multiple recent incidents of vandalism, Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge has set up a fund to purchase security cameras to deter further damage at the memorial to veterans.
Kelley Manson, Cathedral of the Pines executive director, said in the past there have been occasional incidents of vandalism, including people doing burnouts in the parking lot and lawn, but said the incidents have been increasing in frequency, and the past two weekends, employees came in to find damage.
Three weeks ago, someone deliberately smashed multiple bottles in the parking lot, leaving thousands of pieces of glass. Two weekends ago, someone had done doughnuts in the parking lot, leaving skid marks and damaging pavement. Last weekend, someone had driven over the lawn, leaving ruts.
Manson said there was also an incident earlier in January when someone had deliberately driven onto the grass at the entrance to hit a Japanese pine that had been planted there a few years ago.
“From my understanding, this has been going on for a couple of years, but it’s been ramping up recently,” Manson said. “It’s above a prank now. It’s becoming serious.”
Last June, when Cathedral of the Pines was celebrating its founding anniversary, it hosted a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. A vandal drove on the lawn, tearing it up near the memorial while a service was going on at the cathedral’s altar. That evening, someone did it again, after hours.
In another incident, someone drove over markers put out to guide snow plows, mowing them down deliberately, as well as damage to a four-by-four post near the building.
Manson said the incidents have become frequent enough that the cathedral has started to close off its parking lot when the grounds aren’t open, though she said visitors are still welcome to park on the road between the Cathedral of the Pines and Cathedral Road and use the hiking trails on the property.
The cathedral is now taking steps to deter future vandals, Manson said, and has opened a donation fund for a high-resolution security camera system. Estimates for a system to cover problem areas are about $20,000, though a final option hasn’t been chosen, Manson said. The cathedral has reached out to the community and its donors, and in only a few days has reached $1,500 in donations from 24 people.
Any costs in the fund left over after the purchase of the system will be put toward offsetting the cost associated with repairing vandalism damage.
Manson said whether the system catches the perpetrators or deters them from returning, she just wants to see the incidents stopped.
“The cathedral is a memorial for veterans. It’s so disrespectful that someone is doing these kinds of things here,” Manson said.
Residents can donate to the fund by going to the “donate” page at cathedralofthepines.org/donation and selecting the “Fix Cathedral Damage Fund,” or by sending a check made out to the Cathedral of the Pines, with “Damage Fund” in the memo, to Cathedral of the Pines at 10 Hale Hill Road in Rindge.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.