By Jennifer Dailey, community news reporter The historic St. Peter’s Cemetery on North Main Street in Smyrna was in dire need of repairs for years. Between the vandalized tombstones and the crumbling fence, something needed to be done; therefore, a restoration of the cemetery was started in 2013 and completed this year. St. Peter’s Church member Bob Merrill along with the other members of the Vestry of St. Peter’s Church took on the project. Merrill said work was started in October 2013, stopped in the cold weather months and was completed in 2014. “We’re pleased it finally came to fruition,” Merrill said. “We’re doing right by the family members of the deceased buried here. St. Peter’s Rector Donna Jean Kiessling said the iron fence was replaced thanks to $10,000 that was given to the project and the 90-plus tombstones that were damaged were repaired; the tombstones are being paid for through an insurance claim. Kiessling said the folks that have come before and are buried in the cemetery are still important today, which is why the project was needed. “We’re fulfilling the obligation to the deceased and their families,” she said. Merrill said the cemetery dates back to 1744 and was the original site of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, which was torn down in 1827 and a new church was built at 22 N. Union St. “According to folklore, the bricks from the church were used to build the church on Union Street,” Merrill said. Merrill noted the cemetery is the burial site of three Delaware governors, including Thomas Collins; Collins was the governor when Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution making it the first state. Other notable people buried in the cemetery include Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Taylor, who Merrill said survived the sinking of the Titanic on the night of April 15, 1912, and Navy Surgeon George Culbreth. If you go *WHAT St. Peter’s Cemetery tour *WHEN 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1; rain date of Sunday, Nov. 2 *WHERE North Main Street across from George C. Wright Municipal Park *LOTS AVAILABLE Cemetery lots are available by calling St. Peter’s Church at 653-9691 Merrill said the man who donated the land the St. Peter’s Church sits on today – John Cummins – is even buried in the cemetery. Merrill said Cummins was a prominent citizen of Smyrna during the 1700s and was said to have been the wealthiest man in Delaware at one time. There are also many veterans of several U.S. wars buried in the cemetery. Residents can get a history lesson of their own this weekend with a free tour of the St. Peter’s Cemetery on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. A rain date of the tour is Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Parking will be available at George C. Wright Memorial Park across from the cemetery. Cemetery lots are currently available for sale by calling St. Peter’s Church at 653-9691. http://www.scsuntimes.com/article/20141027/news/141029804