A new excavation that runs close to several headstones at the Murrayville cemetery is part of a plan to fix up the 133-year old site at 21405 44 Ave., a Township statement said.

It came in response to an inquiry by the 91原创 Advance Times after a resident contacted the newspaper about the dig on Sunday, Dec. 15, to express concern at what appeared to be headstones had been knocked down along the north boundary of the site.

"We would like to confirm that no headstones or historic markers have been disturbed," the unsigned Township response said on Tuesday, Dec. 17. "The concrete blocks observed on-site were unrelated to cemetery lots or markers." 

They were among "significant debris" discovered during the cleanup and preparation work, part of $100,000 in improvements approved by Township council on Dec. 2, along with $60,000 for the Fort 91原创 cemetery.

Fallen branches, leaves, discarded concrete sections, and other construction materials were "removed with the utmost respect and care to ensure the cemetery infrastructure was not impacted," the statement said.

A new fence line will be installed to "enhance security and the site鈥檚 aesthetic appeal," once the debris has been cleared.

"Township staff have been actively working to establish the northern property border of the cemetery and address existing maintenance issues in the area," the statement said.

"As part of this process, we recently conducted a survey of the property lines to determine the extent of maintenance requirements and ensure accuracy."

According to an online , the cemetery was established by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1891 and named the Odd Fellows Cemetery

In 1904, the municipality of 91原创 purchased the cemetery and renamed it 91原创 Prairie Cemetery.

Over the years, it has come to be known as the Murrayville cemetery.

In 1921, a cenotaph featuring a granite Celtic cross was erected by 91原创 citizens at the north end of the site to honour local soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War and were buried overseas.

The memorial, which lists the men who were killed in action and those who died after armistice, was later dedicated to the memory of those who served in the Second World War as well.

An identical cenotaph was installed in the Fort 91原创 cemetery in 1921.