Dozens of decades-old tombstones found near Matthews neighborhood

MATTHEWS, N.C. — An odd discovery near a Matthews neighborhood.

A Piedmont Natural Gas worker told Channel 9 that he found dozens of what appear to be decades-old tombstones in a wooded area behind the Crestdale Crossing neighborhood.

The stones appear to be from the the 19th century and have what looks like dates and initials carved in them.

The discovery peaked the interest of local historian Jeff Houser who said burial grounds are often lost to developments.

Houser believes they are footstones created for a family grave.

“These were either pulled up from some place and set into the woods for some reason,” he said.

He said the stones may have never been used, but it will take some time to uncover the truth.

“We’d like to know why are these are here, how they got there and who are they for,” Houser said.

Historians are working to compare the initials on the stones with census records from that time.

Houser said as of now, there is no official record of a cemetery in the area.

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