Did You Know?

By Tami A. Jaegel

Did you know that the Town of Andes became a refuge for the dead as the Pepacton and Cannonsville Reservoirs were being constructed? Ironically, before the valleys were flooded, more dead residents were relocated than the living ones with 4,521 bodies dug up and moved from the 21 various cemeteries and family plots across the two valleys,

and a total of 1,1915 living residents from both reservoir areas were relocated. The Pepacton Cemetery, located in the Town of Andes, became the haven for the 426 unclaimed dead from both reservoir areas.

Unclaimed bodies being reinterred at the Pepacton Cemetery in the Town of Andes. New York Board of Water Supply photo circa 1950-54.