Patch Blog Helps Recover Missing Sound Beach Headstone

The odd story of the 19th century headstone found in Sound Beach after Hurricane Sandy took another turn when the stone, once missing, was once again returned to the civic.

Believed to be unearthed after Sandy, the stone was found in late November on the Sound Beach bluffs. After the Sound Beach Civic and local historical societies were able to get a look at it and do some research on the curious 19th century stone, it then went missing.

After the stone was lost, civic president Bea Ruberto took to Patch in hopes of recovering the stone. In a happy twist, Ruberto said the man who took the stone returned it after reading her blog. 

"A man who was working on one of the bulkheads saw it and took it because he was concerned it would be washed away," Ruberto said. "He then read my blog on the Patch and contacted me."

The man, Walter Mruz, also left a note in a comment on the site. He wrote in a comment on March 24, "I actually found this headstone also about 6 weeks ago on the beach in Sound Beach and have it in my posession. Would like to turn it over to someone in the Sound Beach Historical society and hopefully have it placed back where it belongs or close to it for the rememberance of these people.

"It is weathered, as it is made out of limestone. I did not want to leave it on the beach to be buried again and lost for a longer time, as the beach has built up another 4 feet or so since."

The stone has yet to actually be returned because they are looking for a safe place to store it. Right now, tentative plans are to turn the stone over to the Sound Beach Property Owners Association for safe keeping.