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I visited Woodland Cemetery this past November (2010) on Veteran's Day (as well as Holy Sepulchre) by myself in spite of the warnings that it was unsafe to go alone. It was a perfect sunny mellow weekday to visit. Very little traffic and the people out and about were enjoying the nice day. Everyone I needed to ask directions from on the street were helpful and pleasant. (The directions to 10th Street I got online were not accurate because some streets are one-way so I was going around in circles.) Although I was born in Irvington, we left the area many moons ago and I had never been in the city of Newark alone. Next I want to visit the Newark Public Library.

There were 2 other people there looking at a grave. They helped me find my family plot. Only one other person walked through the grounds. So it turned out to be a safe trip. I doubt a police escort is needed if people go in large numbers. This in not said to negate that there are destructive people around, BTW. I think I'll go on the next 'safe day' to plant some bulbs.

The condition of the cemetery was disgraceful - I drove through the 'roads' which are barely there with grass growing through the blacktop and huge tree limbs down so I had to back up and go another path. I thought I was going to tear my muffler off. It felt like "Escape from New York". However, the condition of my family plot was good - it was mowed and the headstones are squat things that can't easily be knocked over or broken. I took pictures of the headstones and some of the other visitors' headstone. I recently found my great grandmother's will which asked her son that a small amount of money be held aside in perpetuity to maintain the plot - but there's no one left of their generations to do that. I'm probably the only Hofmann to see that plot in many years or even care.