Historians: coffins found in Albany likely from mid-1800's - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Historians: coffins found in Albany likely from mid-1800's

By ERIC EGAN, NEWS10 Staff

ALBANY - Federal transportation officials are getting involved after construction workers uncovered old caskets while digging along Mona Terrace--just off Delaware Avenue--in Albany on Tuesday.

Federal officials are involved because federal funds went toward the construction project.

For those living along and just off of Delaware Avenue, they say this isn't the first time they've heard of people buried in their neighborhood.

"Over here somewhere used to be an old burial ground," said Silvia White.

The site is now blocked off by barrels and orange fencing but under the black tarp is where road crews dug into five different caskets early Tuesday. It happened as workers continued renovations along Delaware. The work has since stopped, but the questions are just starting.

"If it was a burial ground in the first place why would you even start building on it?" one neighbor said. "It doesn't make sense to me"

"It bothers me a little bit because this only feeds into the fear of the kids," said White.

According to the City, the graves likely belonged to a family of five. Local historians say the bodies were originally buried back in the mid-1800's when Saint John's Cemetery was in the area.

The coffin pieces remained under the dug-out portion of Mona Terrace on Tuesday. But now since the five have been found, folks can only help but wonder what will turn up next.

"I want to know if there's more," said a resident.

NEWS10 spoke to New York State Assemblyman and local historian Jack McEneny, who was called to the site by City officials. McEneny says he wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find more.

"I would almost say it's probable that somewhere around here there's more," he told NEWS10.

Crews will begin digging again Thursday morning to see if any other bodies are buried there.