A recent storm in New York unexpectedly uncovered a grave that had been hidden for over a century. On June 18, powerful winds swept through Rochester, causing a large Norway maple tree to fall in Mount Hope Cemetery. As its roots were torn from the ground, they exposed a gravestone that had been buried beneath soil and debris for more than 100 years. The marker belongs to Edna Amelia Goodman Allen, born in 1892 and who died in 1918 at the age of 26. Cemetery records shared by Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery indicate she was survived by her husband, John D. Allen, a son, her mother, and six siblings. Staff noted that the stone had been almost entirely covered over time, likely due to shifting soil and the gradual growth of the tree’s root system. When the storm uprooted the tree, it brought the long-hidden memorial back to the surface. The headstone is believed to be in surprisingly good condition for its age, requiring only cleaning, with the inscription still clearly readable. Cemetery historians are now reviewing records to better understand how the stone came to be so deeply buried and whether it has remained in its original burial location. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts reaching up to around 55 mph (89 km/h), alongside heavy rain and thunderstorms across the area, with multiple trees reported down. Mount Hope Cemetery, one of Rochester’s oldest burial grounds, is partly cared for by volunteers who help preserve and restore its historic landscape. Once the site is cleared and stabilised, restoration work on the grave is expected to follow. Source: AccuWeather (“Storm knocks down tree, exposes hidden 100-year-old gravestone”)