Bill,
Good point. My motto at this point is "plow ahead". The cemeteries are still
needing the work whether the DHPA or the IHS and IHB are involved or not. And it is
somewhat confusing with all the hands in the pot stirring the soup. Pioneer cemeteries
need modern day "pioneers" or they will be going away faster than we can ever
hope to recover them.
I give Jeannie credit for trying to educate the public,trustees, and concerned citizens,
and I am all for her programs. I know she is working hard to try to bring cemetery
preservation to the forefront.
Just like anything it usually boils down to the "individual". Isnt that the
American way? Individual citizens who band together to get things done. If we wait on
legislation,directives,cemetery commissions being started, and funding it will be too
late.
And then the story fades away......And I dont like to think about that.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: William Spurlock
To: INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 9:38 AM
Subject: RE: [INPCRP] DNR's Role with Preservation of Cultural Resources
Thank You Jeannie,
That seems to clear up a little of the confusion that at least I have on
this. I have to be honest here and tell you that in trying to study the
breakdowns of the different state agencies and attempting to determine who
is responsible for what is seems like a prime example of too many cooks
spoiling the broth.
From what I can gather The DHPA is by their own admission committed to
educating the public about cemetery issues, however the DHPA is not
responsible for maintaining cemeteries in Indiana. But at the same time
every County Cemetery Commission is required to file an annual report with
the Indiana Historical Bureau A part of . According to the IHB Mission
Statement they provides publications, programs, and other opportunities for
Indiana citizens of all ages to learn and teach about the history of their
communities, the state of Indiana, and their relationships to the nation and
the world. Outside of the fact that the IHB is working with the DHPA on the
Cemetery Heritage Sign Initiative, why would these reports be directed to
this agency? I would think that if the DHPA was created to handle cultural
resources and a pioneer cemetery is clearly without question best defined as
a cultural resources that these reports are not being directed to the
appropriate agency. Would you agree?
While it's clear that there is a great deal of concern on the part of the
State of Indiana over their historic cemeteries I cant help but feel that
there are a number of agencies involved who do have at the very least the
potential of cross purposes and I have to wonder if it might not be better
for the cemeteries in the overall picture to have everything under one roof
in as much as possible in order to ensure that the best interests of the
cemetery is looked out for and not the overriding interests of an agency
such as the DRN who has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with The Nature
Conservancy - an organization who by their own admission takes little
interest in the cemeteries themselves - to conduct controlled burns over
remnant prairie plants on properties for which they are responsible. Would
you care to comment on this?
William Spurlock
Saving Graves
-----Original Message-----
From: Regan-Dinius, Jeannie [mailto:JRdinius@dnr.state.in.us]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 9:40 AM
To: INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [INPCRP] DNR's Role with Preservation of Cultural Resources
There seems to be some discussion and confusion about DNR and cultural
resources, so I would like to explain what I can.
In 1966 was the National Historic Preservation Act; it in essence started
the national preservation movement. Part of this law stated that each state
would create a State Historic Preservation Office. Many states, Indiana
included, put this office in the Department of Natural Resources. The
Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology was created in Indiana to
handle cultural resources.
We do a variety of things: review compliance under Section 106, manage the
National Register of Historic Places applications for Indiana, grants and
tax credits for historic preservation/archaeology projects, monitor
archaeology, and assist archaeologists in their work, compile the Cemetery
Registry, the newly started Historic Theater Initiative, and the Underground
Railroad Initiative. All have their place in the preservation of our
cultural landscape and built environment.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, either on
the list serve or directly via phone.
Jeannie Regan-Dinius
Special Projects Coordinator
DNR-DHPA
402 W. Washington Street, W274
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739
317/232-1646
317/232-0693
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer
Cemeteries Restoration Project only.
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of
"UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST(a)rootsweb.com
or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST(a)rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version)
There seems to be some discussion and confusion about DNR and cultural
resources, so I would like to explain what I can.
In 1966 was the National Historic Preservation Act; it in essence started
the national preservation movement. Part of this law stated that each state
would create a State Historic Preservation Office. Many states, Indiana
included, put this office in the Department of Natural Resources. The
Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology was created in Indiana to
handle cultural resources.
We do a variety of things: review compliance under Section 106, manage the
National Register of Historic Places applications for Indiana, grants and
tax credits for historic preservation/archaeology projects, monitor
archaeology, and assist archaeologists in their work, compile the Cemetery
Registry, the newly started Historic Theater Initiative, and the Underground
Railroad Initiative. All have their place in the preservation of our
cultural landscape and built environment.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, either on
the list serve or directly via phone.
Jeannie Regan-Dinius
Special Projects Coordinator
DNR-DHPA
402 W. Washington Street, W274
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739
317/232-1646
317/232-0693
Thank You Jeannie,
That seems to clear up a little of the confusion that at least I have on
this. I have to be honest here and tell you that in trying to study the
breakdowns of the different state agencies and attempting to determine who
is responsible for what is seems like a prime example of too many cooks
spoiling the broth.
From what I can gather The DHPA is by their own admission committed to
educating the public about cemetery issues, however the DHPA is not
responsible for maintaining cemeteries in Indiana. But at the same time
every County Cemetery Commission is required to file an annual report with
the Indiana Historical Bureau A part of . According to the IHB Mission
Statement they provides publications, programs, and other opportunities for
Indiana citizens of all ages to learn and teach about the history of their
communities, the state of Indiana, and their relationships to the nation and
the world. Outside of the fact that the IHB is working with the DHPA on the
Cemetery Heritage Sign Initiative, why would these reports be directed to
this agency? I would think that if the DHPA was created to handle cultural
resources and a pioneer cemetery is clearly without question best defined as
a cultural resources that these reports are not being directed to the
appropriate agency. Would you agree?
While it's clear that there is a great deal of concern on the part of the
State of Indiana over their historic cemeteries I cant help but feel that
there are a number of agencies involved who do have at the very least the
potential of cross purposes and I have to wonder if it might not be better
for the cemeteries in the overall picture to have everything under one roof
in as much as possible in order to ensure that the best interests of the
cemetery is looked out for and not the overriding interests of an agency
such as the DRN who has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with The Nature
Conservancy - an organization who by their own admission takes little
interest in the cemeteries themselves - to conduct controlled burns over
remnant prairie plants on properties for which they are responsible. Would
you care to comment on this?
William Spurlock
Saving Graves
-----Original Message-----
From: Regan-Dinius, Jeannie [mailto:JRdinius@dnr.state.in.us]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 9:40 AM
To: INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [INPCRP] DNR's Role with Preservation of Cultural Resources
There seems to be some discussion and confusion about DNR and cultural
resources, so I would like to explain what I can.
In 1966 was the National Historic Preservation Act; it in essence started
the national preservation movement. Part of this law stated that each state
would create a State Historic Preservation Office. Many states, Indiana
included, put this office in the Department of Natural Resources. The
Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology was created in Indiana to
handle cultural resources.
We do a variety of things: review compliance under Section 106, manage the
National Register of Historic Places applications for Indiana, grants and
tax credits for historic preservation/archaeology projects, monitor
archaeology, and assist archaeologists in their work, compile the Cemetery
Registry, the newly started Historic Theater Initiative, and the Underground
Railroad Initiative. All have their place in the preservation of our
cultural landscape and built environment.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, either on
the list serve or directly via phone.
Jeannie Regan-Dinius
Special Projects Coordinator
DNR-DHPA
402 W. Washington Street, W274
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739
317/232-1646
317/232-0693
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer
Cemeteries Restoration Project only.
Jeannie, congratulations on your new job -- Historic Theaters -- at least
you will know for sure where they are. Unlike cemeteries and Underground
Railroad locations, which are often rumored to be here or there, there
should be some records as to where the theaters are/were.
I am coming toward the end of writing the Indiana Genealogical Society's
book on "Driving Directions to all Cemeteries in the State". (Strictly a
working title.) A have only a few more counties on which to pull
information together. I have about 20 more counties to read the topographic
maps and finalize my directions. I hope to have the book to a printer
sometime in 2004. This will be available for anyone to purchase. I'm sure
it will be in several volumes. The original direction of the IGS project
(in 1990) was to create a database also, however, this part has been dropped
because DNR is mandated to create such a database.
I know there will be errors. So expect a supplement in a few years with
corrections and additions. Would those of you who agreed to proofread a
county for me, please get them done and back to me soon? Any one want to
proof a county? I only have six counties in the state completely done.
Please reply to me off list. sshowell(a)indy.net
Sharon Howell