Storm damages Algonquin Cemetery

Monday's winds wreaked havoc at the historic Algonquin Cemetery, damaging about a dozen headstones and 15 silver ash and maple trees.

Eight of those trees, ranging from 30 to 40 years old, were destroyed and will require removal, said Bob Mitchard, director of the village's public works department.

Miraculously, the storm left untouched the older oak trees and historic headstones, one of which dates back to 1850, Mitchard said.

The gravestones damaged are between 30 and 40 years old, he said.

Headstone repairs should be completed within the next 30 days -- an estimate for this work has not yet been established, Mitchard said.

He hopes there's enough money left over to replace the eight trees that have to be uprooted.

"There are no guarantees because of limited funding for the cemetery," he said, adding that the cemetery gets its money from the village and plot sales.