October 15, 2026

VANDALS KNOW NO BOUNDS — BREAK 5 HEADSTONES AT ST. JAMES MAIN STREET CEMETERY IN GRAVENHURST OVERNIGHT TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY

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GRAVENHURST — A grim reminder of prowlers and punks who lurk in the cover of dark.

No, not Dracula, but a vandals preying on the dead.

Just weeks before All Hallow’s Eve (All Saints Eve) police are investigating “mischief” headstones at the St. James Anglican Church cemetery on the main street of Gravenhurst.

Today officers were alerted to the dark deed that occurred at a cemetery located on the south east corner of Violet Street and Muskoka Road South.

Unknown suspects entered the cemetery overnight between the very late hours of Tuesday, October 13 – early yesterday morning (Wednesday, October 14) and broke five headstones.

Anyone with surveillance footage in the area of First Street/Violet Street/Muskoka Road South is asked to look for possible images. If you have information about this crime, please call Bracebridge OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or if you remain wish to remain anonymous, you may reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestopperssdm.com.

St. James Cemetery history:

St. James Cemetery is a two acre parcel of land originally surveyed on the Plan of the Village of Gravenhurst on July 10, 1878 and owned by John Forster Esq.
Officially transferred to the Bishop of Algoma (Anglican) in 1883 as a cemetery.
An original wood frame church was located on this site until 1882, when it was re-built at its present location at Hotchkiss and John streets.
It was maintained by the church until 1993, when it was turned over to the town by request of the church.
Buried there are many of the community’s pioneers and leading citizens
Including several graves of local war veterans.
It is registered with the Commonwealth War Graves commission.
It is one of 13 cemeteries the Town of Gravenhurst lists.