Kyle,
I told Bud Bush I would bring my tripod and set up some stones in Henry county
sometime......maybe Messick would be a good choice. I cant do much on the long term grass
and weed issues but I would be glad to volunteer for a day if they still need some help.
Mark
Kyle Conrad wrote----" The cemeteries that interest me are three
hours away. One in particular is the Messick Cemetery in Henry County, where I
have not been able to make it to for a couple of years. Thank goodness for the
Henry County cemetery commission members who are working there on my behalf to
correct a wrong that has been going on for decades".
----- Original Message -----
From: KidClerk(a)aol.com
To: INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 6:27 AM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Burning issue! Theaters! Graveyards! Underground Railroads!
OK....so I got too high on my soap box. I'm sorry to those who took offense.
You would have had to have been on this list wayyyy back to remember the
discussions on the 'storing' of human remains (probably in bankers boxes on
shelves in the state office building) from a destroyed Marion County cemetery and
all subsequent discussion as to the DNR that have taken place over the past
four years or so to understand my animosity. I just can't type the letters DNR
without steam rolling from my head. I don't expect everyone to understand or
agree, but listening to those who have experienced these frustrations over the
years could be helpful in understanding all of the issues at hand, not just
one particular subject.
To me, Ruth really brought this discussion back 360 degrees to the beginning
of what the problem really is. Burning is not the issue here, folks. It's
the fact that we have cemeteries like the Rogersville Cemetery in Henry County
that are allowed to "grow like weeds" that then require the burning. This is
the true travesty...and a double whammy at that when burning is then conducted.
When my ancestors settled in Henry and Montgomery Counties in the 1820's,
they worked to clear the land that they settled on and buried their families on.
Returning these areas back to their natural state was not their intentions.
It appears that one piece of legislation we may have overlooked is the
separation of powers from within the DNR regarding cemetery preservation. Removing
this from their bailiwick and placing it elsewhere, either by forming a new
government division or by placing it within an existing one, may be something
worth proposing. As Rich pointed out, there may be conflict within the DNR that
is counter productive at best. Maybe that should be pointed out to the
legislative committee as the talks continue.
Theresa, you should be glad you can go off and spend time in your cemetery
for some of us are not as lucky. The cemeteries that interest me are three
hours away. One in particular is the Messick Cemetery in Henry County, where I
have not been able to make it to for a couple of years. Thank goodness for the
Henry County cemetery commission members who are working there on my behalf to
correct a wrong that has been going on for decades. But as far as those dead
people being easier to get along with, don't be so sure. I've been haunted
for years by the images of their final resting place being in a state of
disrepair and not being able to do much to help....and not being able to get anyone
with authority to do much either. For the past several years there have been
clean up days out there, only to allow the weeds to come right back because
the trustee doesn't have it in her to go out of her way to be of any assistance.
Most of the stones are toppled and/or broken and some are under ground.
Probing for those and digging them up can cause one to be subject to go to jail
if a DNR officer stumbled upon you. The only thing that works out there is
Roundup and Tordon, and that is not acceptable to some. So...my great great
great great grandfather's final resting place remains a disgrace to him and those
neighbors who he settled that area with almost 200 years ago. So while those
'dead people' are easier to get along with now, there will be a day when I
expect to meet Jacob and Phoebe Hill. I'd sure like my grandfather to look upon
me and say "well done, good and faithful servant". I think I at least owe him
that. But until we clear those roadblocks, it will never happen. One of
those roadblocks is the DNR.
Again, I apologize if my comments were too harsh for some. I don't comment
often, so when I do, I make the best use of my time.
-Kyle
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
If you know of some good cemetery related links, send them to LoisMauk(a)usa.net.
OK....so I got too high on my soap box. I'm sorry to those who took offense.
You would have had to have been on this list wayyyy back to remember the
discussions on the 'storing' of human remains (probably in bankers boxes on
shelves in the state office building) from a destroyed Marion County cemetery and
all subsequent discussion as to the DNR that have taken place over the past
four years or so to understand my animosity. I just can't type the letters DNR
without steam rolling from my head. I don't expect everyone to understand or
agree, but listening to those who have experienced these frustrations over the
years could be helpful in understanding all of the issues at hand, not just
one particular subject.
To me, Ruth really brought this discussion back 360 degrees to the beginning
of what the problem really is. Burning is not the issue here, folks. It's
the fact that we have cemeteries like the Rogersville Cemetery in Henry County
that are allowed to "grow like weeds" that then require the burning. This is
the true travesty...and a double whammy at that when burning is then conducted.
When my ancestors settled in Henry and Montgomery Counties in the 1820's,
they worked to clear the land that they settled on and buried their families on.
Returning these areas back to their natural state was not their intentions.
It appears that one piece of legislation we may have overlooked is the
separation of powers from within the DNR regarding cemetery preservation. Removing
this from their bailiwick and placing it elsewhere, either by forming a new
government division or by placing it within an existing one, may be something
worth proposing. As Rich pointed out, there may be conflict within the DNR that
is counter productive at best. Maybe that should be pointed out to the
legislative committee as the talks continue.
Theresa, you should be glad you can go off and spend time in your cemetery
for some of us are not as lucky. The cemeteries that interest me are three
hours away. One in particular is the Messick Cemetery in Henry County, where I
have not been able to make it to for a couple of years. Thank goodness for the
Henry County cemetery commission members who are working there on my behalf to
correct a wrong that has been going on for decades. But as far as those dead
people being easier to get along with, don't be so sure. I've been haunted
for years by the images of their final resting place being in a state of
disrepair and not being able to do much to help....and not being able to get anyone
with authority to do much either. For the past several years there have been
clean up days out there, only to allow the weeds to come right back because
the trustee doesn't have it in her to go out of her way to be of any assistance.
Most of the stones are toppled and/or broken and some are under ground.
Probing for those and digging them up can cause one to be subject to go to jail
if a DNR officer stumbled upon you. The only thing that works out there is
Roundup and Tordon, and that is not acceptable to some. So...my great great
great great grandfather's final resting place remains a disgrace to him and those
neighbors who he settled that area with almost 200 years ago. So while those
'dead people' are easier to get along with now, there will be a day when I
expect to meet Jacob and Phoebe Hill. I'd sure like my grandfather to look upon
me and say "well done, good and faithful servant". I think I at least owe him
that. But until we clear those roadblocks, it will never happen. One of
those roadblocks is the DNR.
Again, I apologize if my comments were too harsh for some. I don't comment
often, so when I do, I make the best use of my time.
-Kyle