Bone fragments, caskets found at Temple University construction site; students quick to react: 'It's creepy'
Temple students react after caskets, bone fragments found at campus construction site
At a Temple University construction site, bone fragments and caskets were found where a cemetery once stood and students were quick to react to the news.
NORTH PHILADELPHIA - Caskets and bone fragments were found at a Temple University construction site. The university addressed the findings in a statement, saying a portion of the site was once part of a cemetery.
The news traveled fast on campus, knowing that the discovery of human remains was right across Polett Walk where students pass by every day.
What we know:
Temple University officials said that caskets and bone fragments were found at a campus construction site, at North Broad Street across from Polett Walk.
They did not say when the discovery occurred, only that crews were involved in routine preparations for the work zone when they came across the findings. They made the announcement Friday.
The backstory:
The construction site sits atop a portion of what was once Monument Cemetery. The university and the Philadelphia Board of Education "acquired" the cemetery in the 1950s, officials said.
Once acquired, all of the remains were reinterred at Lawnview Memorial Park in Montgomery County.
What they're saying:
"It was kind of weird because finding caskets – I never heard of that before," student Emmanuella Mensah stated.
Another student, Jessica Ogbonnaya, said, "I was like, ‘No way!’ Because my roommate had shown me first and so I’m like, ‘Oh, girl, you’re joking.’ It’s very ominous walking around because what do you mean by that? I don’t like that."
Mensah continued, "Just to find out this place used to be a cemetery, it’s kind of creepy, in my opinion."
"I just think that’s kind of crazy," student Quinn Lynch commented. "The city itself just has years of history and what not so digging in the ground, finding things, that happens but just so close – so close to campus – on campus. It’s spooky, you know what I mean?"
"I just feel like them trying to respect the remains is very good because those used to be people who used to live before. So them having respect for the remains that’s good," Mensah added.
Big picture view:
The university devised a plan for such discoveries, because, they say, it isn’t uncommon for crews to find such items after cemeteries are overtaken for other uses.
Temple’s plan involves notifying the Philadelphia Coroner’s Office, the medical examiner, law enforcement and an archeologist.
Once discovered, crews immediately stopped working at the site and the plan was set into motion.
The remains were then handled with care and respect, as their plan dictates.
Work at the site did not resume until all agencies involved in the process gave the okay to do so.
What's next:
University officials stated they would remain in contact with the agencies involved in the plan and, should additional remains be found, they will again set their process in motion, so as to ensure that proper respect and care for the remains is taken.
Temple previously announced it was breaking ground for a new facility for the Klein College of Media and Communication and the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts, as seen in renderings, and the expected opening is for the fall 2027 semester.
Student Oliver Burchette said, "I just think it’s a weird part of the history for the building for students who have to take classes there. Everyone’s going to know when this building was built, it was built over a cemetery and they did not remove all the bodies."