I don't intend this to be the least bit self-serving or self-agrandizing;
however, I thought the members of the INPCRP group might be interested in
the following message posted by one of my e-mail correspondents to his
SUTTON surname e-mail discussion group encouraging them to become involved
in the preservation of pioneer cemeteries wherever they might be.
Scott, I hope Milo's message will result in a contact for you with the
Bonnie Allen and Virginia Aldridge that he mentions as being interested in a
neglected site in Warren County, Indiana.
Later.
Lois
To: SUTTON-L(a)rootsweb.com
From: Milo Sutton <sutton(a)beachnet.gen.ca.us>
cc: Lois Mauk <LawOfficeInformationSystem(a)worldnet.att.net>,
ssattert(a)citznet.com, dee1234(a)aye.net
Subject: Cemetery Preservation
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 97 21:54:10 +0000
Sutton List:
Take a look at the Clark County (IN) Cemeteries website, which you can
access at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5881/index.html
Lois Mauk <mailto: LoisMauk(a)usa.net> and her fellow volunteers show at this
site us an example of the truly outstanding work being done by thoughtful
and caring people throughout the world. Preserving, surveying and indexing
cemeteries has not, until recently, been a popular project. (Lois and I,
although not related, are researching the WELLS surname.)
It was by coincidence that Bonnie Allen and Virginia Aldridge, both of
Evansville, reported this week that they found a Warrick County, IN
cemetery in deplorable condition.
Bonnie said: " We both are VERY UNHAPPY about the condition of the Sharon
Cemetery. Many SUTTON's are buried there and Sarah Brinson SUTTON's stone
is leaning up against a tree stump, but where does it belong?!!! Virginia
was there yesterday to have a look around. We decided to see if someone
has a plot plan for the graves...wish us luck!"
Bonnie is going to recruit her husband, Scott, to try to repair some of the
damage. If it's in the condition I've found other small cemeteries, good
luck, folks! :(
--
Here's the new parent Indiana site that explains the need for
renewed interest in cemetery preservation:
http://www.citznet.com/~ssattert/inpcrp/
"The Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project was begun in
October 1997 as an effort to generate public awareness about the neglected
pioneer cemeteries of Indiana. The state of Indiana is home to thousands of
abandoned or neglected pioneer cemeteries, the oldest of which now approach
200 years. The goal of this project is to restore and preserve as many of
these cemeteries as possible. This project was founded on the belief that
we owe our pioneer ancestors a better monument than a forgotten grave amid
bramble and thicket."
--
This is an example of one of those sites that we should visit every few
weeks because they're obviously going to post ongoing changes and
additions. And, this is the type of web site folks on this List should
check if they can't or don't visit cemeteries, courthouses, libraries,
historical societies and Family History Centers to conduct their research.
A personal note: Following my last drive across country, I decided to ask
some of _my_ living relatives to help me mark some of the graves of our
ancestors. For example, in Ohio, I found a cemetery in the middle of a corn
field where some of my ancestors are buried. Although there was no road to
it, a farmer has fenced off the cemetery from his crops and has
respectfully maintained what little is left of the it. Only three or four
stones are intact, but someone generously erected a common marker for the
dozens of people buried there, as well as to display the name of the
cemetery. (I emphasized that I was going to ask _MY_ relatives to donate
because two or three of you folks are always ready to donate to anything I
mention! In about three days, I would've found a check from you in my snail
mail. No checks, please! <grin>)
Finally: Look for cemetery preservation or similar projects in the states
where you're researching. I don't want to post every "good" site we
find,
but my objective is to encourage you to explore the Internet for sites that
will help your research efforts.
Hope you're gearing up for a Happy Holiday!
\ | /
- Milo
/ | \
Milo Sutton, Sutton List Owner
415 2nd Street
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-4602
Voice: (310) 372-2014
Fax: (310) 379-3145
Primary Email address: sutton(a)beachnet.gen.ca.us
Email: MSutton344(a)aol.com
Email: MSutton344(a)worldnet.att.net
SUTTON URL:
http://www.geocities.com/~milosutton/
.
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This Can't be my family tree, I'm a peach and its full of nuts!