The steel industry attracted immigrants to
Bethlehem, PA in early 1900s. On
1 October 1918 the first citizen of Bethlehem,
PA died of Spanish Influenza.
Poor living conditions contributed to the
rapid spread of illness. There were more dead by the end of October
than the city could handle.
South Mountain at St. Michael’s Cemetery
contains markers from October through
November 1918. Magnetometer and Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were
performed at this location to identify
possible locations for a mass grave on the
site.
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There was significant noise in the
magnetometer survey (above) from above
surface iron fencing.
The GPR results (left) show several
locations of single burials as well as a
trench feature interpreted as the result of
an exhumation. However, no feature
indicative of a mass grave was identified
at this site. |