Do you know where the Old Town Cemetery was located?
In a message dated 2/22/2009 6:19:05 P.M. Central Standard Time,
hancock(a)link2000.net writes:
No, This is "Old Town Cemetery",
I have more articles of cemeteries being moved, one dated 1873 as well, so
this shows that it was as important to move a cemetery to make way for roads
and highways as it is today, not just to move the stones and build over
them. It also shows from research that they were terribly neglected as
they are today? Just makes you wonder what the outcome of the cemeteries
that we are now restoring will look like in 100 years? Or if they will even
be there.
Kim Hancock
On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 6:41 PM, <KidClerk(a)aol.com> wrote:
Wonderful articles Kim.
Where was/is this cemetery? Is this Oak Hill?
I have several of ancestors buried in Montgomery County, but none that I
know of in Crawfordsville itself. Hutton and Darlington IOOF mainly.
Kyle D. Conrad
In a message dated 2/22/2009 5:26:19 P.M. Central Standard Time,
hancock(a)link2000.net writes:
Here are a few articles about the moving of a cemetery in 1894, from
research I have done on cemeteries in Montgomery county, IN
Not much restoration work I can do in the Indiana weather. So I thought
anyone interested in cemetery restoration would enjoy reading these
articles
found in the Montgomery county, Indiana newspapers.
Kim Hancock
Project Coordinator of the Restoration of pioneer cemteries for the
Genealogy Club of Montgomery county, Indiana
Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Friday, July 6, 1894
THE OLD TOWN CEMETERY
The Bones of Many Early Residents Being Brought To Light After years of
Peaceful Rest
Last Friday afternoon, a representative of the Journal strolled out to
the Old Town cemetery and notices the work of the resurrection and
re-internment of the remains of many of Crawfordsville's oldest citizens.
The north 60 feet of the cemetery from the east to the west is to be
vacated
and utilized as a road, and the work of re-internment has been in
progress
for several days. Each body, (only a few bones remain of most)
when
resurrected, is placed in a small enplaned and unpainted oak box of about
1
x 2 feet and re-interred in a part of the cemetery not vacated; unless
perchance some relatives of the dead person's remains, will manifest
enough
interest to have the bones carried to some other and more reputable
burying
ground.
Large numbers of people visit the scene of the work daily and display
the curiosity incident to lovers of such uncanny work. There are several
workmen employed under the contractor, Jere Carver, and J.H. Cook,
superintends the work and keeps the books. The cemetery has not been used
for a burying ground for a number of years and is so rankly overgrown with
brush and trees. The roots of these have in many instance penetrated to
the
coffins of the dead....... In nearly every instance the coffins have
disappeared, leaving only a little wood to show they had ever been
employed. The few remaining bones of the deceased are picked up
carefully,
however and deposited in the boxes prepared for them. The portion of the
cemetery vacated is the most densely populated of the little city of the
dead, and Friday afternoon, sixty-two bodies had been taken up, with as
many
more remaining.
Friday afternoon, the bodies of John Conners and his little grandson,
Dennis Ward Jr. were taken from adjacent graves after a sleep of 20 years.
Only a few bones remained. The bones of both were placed in one box and
taken away by Dennis Ward, Sr.
The bodies of Micajah Reeder, 1779-1849, and his daughter, Mrs. Wm. L.
John rest under a large monument and have not yet been molested. Mr.
Reeder
died here while on a visit to the Burbridge family and was buried far from
his home. His epitaph; "Touch the love Harp for him, Thus far form home
sweet home, Where love still fondly clings."
The skeleton of Mary Conder was found with a great wealth of flowing
hair, probably grown after burial. The skeleton of Isabelle May was in
excellent state of preservation. The body of Nancy Smith, which had been
buried thirty-four years was found in excellent condition; the clothing
still being preserved and even the hair pins in the queerly dressed hair.
The bodies of Margaret Misner and two daughters were removed from
adjacent graves. The bodies of John O'Connor and his children, Mickey and
Maggie were removed to the Catholic Cemetery. Friday afternoon the white
coffin of an unknown child was dug up. The coffin was in splendid
condition
and was re-interred in another part of the cemetery without being opened.
The bodies of John, Tessie, and Lizzie Costello were removed to the
Catholic
cemetery. The skeleton of Archibald Martin was removed after being
buried
thirty-nine years, and was in good condition. Mr. Martin was 88
years old
at the time of his death. The bodies of W.H.H. Martin, J.C. Martin, and
James F. Martin were also taken from adjacent graves. The body of an
unknown was removed from the grave next to that of W.H.H, Martin, his
clothes were still in fine condition and easily showed their cut and
color.
The body of Rosa Wilson, colored, with the body of her infant child in
her arms, was removed. Her hair was still preserved. The workers have
found no jewelry of valuables as they work, although occasionally buttons,
hair pins, etc. were picked up.
Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Friday, July 13, 1894
Up to last Saturday evening 134 bodies had been taken up in the old
graveyard. In nearly every instance there remains nothing but bones. One
skeleton was removed that must have belonged to a man nearly seven feet
tall.
A startling discovery was made last week when one grave was opened; the
coffin was there, only a little bit decayed, but when the lid was removed,
there were no bones inside, nor any remains of a body. The grave had
doubtless been robbed. There was no name to indicate who had been buried
there, and for years the friends of the deceased had supposed the body
was
in the grave, when in fact it had doubtless been taken to some
medical
college in the interest of science.
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This list is for sharing pioneer cemetery questions, ideas and
restoration projects.
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INPCRP-request(a)rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
in the subject and the body of the message
This list is for sharing pioneer cemetery questions, ideas and restoration
projects.
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body of the message
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