Subj: Cemetery Protection, or should I say Lack of it.
Date: 11/23/04 10:43:51 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Jack Briles
To: INPCRP
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Can you really see a difference, I hope so.
----- Original Message -----
From: jb502000(a)aol.com
To: INPCRP
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001, 2:43 AM
Subject: [INPCRP] Re: Cemetery Protection, or should I say Lack of it.
Today, I visited the site of a Pioneer cemetery. Or where it had been,
with
7 Stones on the site, there had been 1 very Large one with 2 names on it,
man and wife. I also Visited the Site where the remains ??? had been moved.
The 5 Marble tablets looked very nice. They had been sanded nice and white,
and
had a very nice burial site. Unless you see 3 places where the ground was dug
up to put Small Cremation Boxes of Remains of a minimum of 8 people. The size
of the burial spots for at least 8 people looked like someone had buried 3
very
very small Children. They were moved to Fairview Cemetery in New Albany. The
Cemetery Superintendent said a very small amount of remains were found, so
they
were buried in "Small" cremation Boxes. The old Smith Family Burying ground
would possibly have been at the front door of a Large Planned Department
Store.
I do not want anyone to misunderstand me. I don't object to the
Removal.
Caesar's Gambling Riverboat on Property 6 inches from the Floyd County Line,
Had the Remains of Native Americans buried There, and the Archeologist
from 1 or 2 Indiana State universities worked there for a year, The reason,
before anything could be built there, the site had to be thoroughly examined,
and
all Ancient remains Recovered and eventually turned over to Native Americans
for a Proper Reburial, according to their customs. I think this was all done
properly, and more then likely with dignity.
But we Caucasians, as we are known (my family did not come from
the
(Cacuces), And I'm not (Native American, I'm White), So were the Smith
Family, but apparently our Customs For a Proper Disinterment, and
Reinternment,
don't count for much. The Cemetery was moved completely??? in one day,
actually less,and dirt was hauled in immediately and the site was covered. I
don't
know why,the whole area is going to be graded level.
The State Health Department, and the Department of Historic
Preservation,
and Archaeology, the very people these LAWS have been delegated to oversee,
and Protect our Pioneers, did not Even Know the Site was being moved. It was
over before I could call Indianapolis and Check on the removal.
When I do call, no one can answer my questions, they have to get
back with me. (Don't Happen) I have been checking all day today to find out
where
the Smiths were moved. If their descendants want to visit, they without my
diligence, and Reporting the new location to the Indiana room at the Library
in New
Albany, would not have had any idea where they went to. This is Pathetic. I
checked 2 cemeteries, that I was told they had been moved to. Finally I went
to the Floyd Co. Circuit Court Clerk, from which Judge Cody had issued the
Permit to Remove the Cemetery, and I found out the Court order only grants
permission, They have no Idea where the remains are Going.
The Clerk directed me to the Attorneys office who obtained the
Permit.They
were able to tell me where they had been moved, but not Who Oversaw the
Disinterment. Or Reinternment. I went to the Cemetery, and the Superintendent
showed me where they were Buried. There were 3 small holes in the ground,
with 2 large stones on each end, and 5 small Marble tablets with a Slightly
larger
Hole for the 5. Whoopee, they even took pictures of the reburials. Also the
person in
charge said a descendant for $1.00 gave permission for the removal. Why, with
a
Court order it's not necessary.To show the difference between Native
American,
and how our ancestors are handled I for the first time in my life saw 5
Marble
tablets for markers about 2 or 3 inches apart. When I saw how they had been
treated, I had tears in my Eyes, and I don't mind saying it. It appears the
only
thing was to hurry and get it over with. Incidentally, a Back Hoe was used to
recover the Remains. No wonder they never recovered much. This was a
Construction Job, not a Reburial. If the DHPA and the DNR want to really
protect
these people, why don't they require Notification of their Department, and
require
someone of authority, as opposed to the Project manager, to oversee the
Removal.
He has probably only seen nice Burials where the dirt isn't even thrown on
the
Caskets until everyone leaves. How does he or his Operator know how to
recover
Human Remains Properly?
As I have repeatedly stated, the Laws were passing now are better
than nothing, but they, in my opinion are only appeasement Laws, and have no
genuine protection at all. If I, being on the INPCRP List can't help resolve
this
sordid state of affairs, then I may as well Unsubscribe, stop recording the
Locations of Pioneer Cemeteries to turn over to the DNR, and say to Hell
with it and go back into retirement in Florida. If this E-Mail offends
anyone,
GOOD, I'll be proud of it!
At least the Smith Family has 1 person that feels for their plight,
and
now I know better than anyone else in Indiana just how much protection these
Sites have, and what kind of respect one person has for another. Same old
story, If you have the Money, anything goes, to hell with the Law, it's
already
finished. Lets Move the Pioneer Cemeteries if Necessary, But let's do it with
the
Dignity that they are entitled to. Not hauled in a Pickup Truck.
Jack E. Briles Sr.
jb502000(a)aol.com
Po Box 444
New Albany, In. 47151-0444
(812) 282-6585
You may want to print this for future reference To make sure the LAWS are
rigidally enforced.
Jack