The Brainer Cemetery near Hymera in Sullivan Co., IN is about to be destroyed.
The Black Beauty Coal Co., which alleges it owns clear title to the cemetery,
has petitioned the Sullivan Superior Court for permission to excavate the
remains of 15 or more people buried there so that it can explore the site for
coal.
Due to the damage that has already taken place at Brainer Cemetery, we know of
only one CONFIRMED burial here. The surname is McCAMISH. We believe there
may be PLEWs buried here as well. There are estimated by the coal company to
be at least 15 graves here.
This sort of legalized cemetery destruction is nothing new; coal companies do
this in Indiana all the time. What's different in this situation is that we
have in place a network of people who are trying to stop this desecration or,
in the alternative, persuade the Court to compel Black Beauty Coal Co. to
simultaneously disinter and reinter the remains in a respectful manner.
The deadline for filing objections is Thursday, May 4, 2000. We don't want a
repeat of what was done to Rhoads Cemetery and Wilhoit Cemetery!!!
If you are a descendant of a person believed to be buried at Brainer Cemetery
or if you would like to get
involved in protecting this site in this critical battle, please go to the
Brainer Cemetery page at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/HallofShame/brainercem.html
read the information there, read the Petition filed by Black Beauty Coal, read
the linked newspaper accounts and print out a "template" for filing your
objections with the Sullivan Superior Court. Remember: Your objections must
be received by the Court no later than Thursday, May 4th.
Thank you!
Lois Mauk
State Coordinator
Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp