West Newton mausoleum project gets $3K donation

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

It has stood for 117 years, and thanks to local residents and lots of elbow grease, the mausoleum in West Newton Cemetery that houses Sutersville founder Eli Suter will be around for many more years.

The cemetery’s second phase of renovations, which started in November, has garnered attention from area residents and officials. 

On Saturday, Sutersville Borough Council donated $3,000 to the cemetery to help with the project.

West Newton Cemetery manager Ben Markle said the funds will be used to cover the cost of materials.

“It’s important to the town. That’s their founder in there,” he said.

Last year, Markle and mason Art Cochenour began renovations on the mausoleum, replacing stones, sealing the roof and installing new mortar joints.

After phase one of the project was completed in October, Markle was contacted by Frank Barbera, a retired school shop teacher and the mayor of Sutersville for 12 years back in the late ’80s and ’90s.

Barbera told Markle he would donate his time and skills to finish the renovations, which means putting up new doors, replacing the stained glass windows, putting in new marble and cleaning the inside.

“I thought I’d at least get him to come down and maybe that will scare him,” Markle said with a laugh. “I just feared opening up a can of worms. The mausoleum had been sealed since 1927. I had a fear of getting into way too much.”

But once Markle met Barbera and saw his work on home projects, Markle changed his mind.

“It became apparent to me he was a craftsman,” Markle said.

Barbera, a Greensburg resident who grew up in Sutersville, said he was eager to tackle the mausoleum’s renovations.

“Eli was a good guy and my grandmother was around during those days,” Barbera said. “I thought maybe I could straighten this out.”

Barbera began the process by removing bricks that blocked the mausoleum’s window, which allowed Barbera and Markle to get inside.

“It’s like owning a house and you find a secret room,” Markle said.

Barbera said walking into the mausoleum is like walking into the past. 

“It’s really cool when you think about it,” he said. “We were the only ones in there since 1927.”

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