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Developer pledges to 'do the right thing' after headstones found at former St. Peter's cemetery site
Summary
WODA Construction halted work after crews uncovered headstones on a Sunset Boulevard parcel and says it has notified state preservation officials, hired ground-penetrating radar specialists and will retain a SHIPPO-approved archaeologist; local historians say maps show a mid-19th-century Catholic cemetery and offered to help document any remains.
WODA Construction representatives told Steubenville City Council on April 7 that excavation for a planned senior housing project on Sunset Boulevard uncovered headstones and that the company immediately stopped work and notified city and state authorities. Tom Simons, the project's local developer, said WODA called the police, contacted the State Historic Preservation Office (SHIPPO) and contracted Jones GPR for a preliminary survey that identified roughly 20 anomalies.
"We want to do what's right. We want to honor these people," Simons said, and described steps the company is taking to secure a SHIPPO-approved archaeologist, engage legal counsel and coordinate with the Diocese and local funeral services. Attorney Michael Shaheen told council Ohio law prescribes a strict procedure for handling potential human remains and cautioned that anomalies on radar indicate soil disturbance rather than definitive remains.
Local historians and genealogists told council the parcel corresponds to maps for St. Peter's Church and a 19th‑century Catholic burial ground; Linda Hilty of the Jefferson County Historical Association said records and historic maps suggest the earlier cemetery could have contained many burials that were not fully transferred to Mount Calvary Cemetery. "This could be a lot larger number," Hilty said, noting that Mount Calvary's card records do not appear to account for every person who may have been moved.
WODA co-owner Jeffrey Woda said the company will investigate reports that truckloads of soil left the site and will flag any locations where removed fill might contain fragments. Mike Shaheen said the next steps are deeper geophysical work and, if warranted, spot excavations done by archaeologists following the Ohio Revised Code process to locate, document and, if necessary, handle any human remains with probate-court procedures and notification protocols.
The developer and counsel said they are coordinating with the Diocese of Steubenville and the Mount Calvary staff, and have offered to share records and to involve local historical and genealogical organizations in documenting any inscribed markers or remains discovered. Council members emphasized the need to preserve dignity for decedents and asked staff to track removed soil, deploy deeper radar surveys once conditions permit and keep the public informed of investigative steps and findings.
