Al and Hodges List...I received this reply to a letter that I wrote in February to Stephen Shelton at SC Dept. of Archives and History. Al the letter that you got was NOT a form letter, but became a form letter for the one that I got. Yes, I still think that we're getting the runaround!!! I'm proud to see that there were 14 e-mail messages sent to Jim Hodges, gov. of SC. Thank you to everyone... as Al says "Patience and Persistence" Mary Clyde >Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 10:14:59 -0400 >From: Skelton Stephen <[email protected]> >Subject: >To: 'frosamondrutternet' <[email protected]>, > 'tonykctnetnet' <[email protected]>, 'gloverhallamaredu' > <[email protected]>, > 'gmforrestercenturytelnet' <[email protected]>, > 'dennis_blackmonhotmailcom' <[email protected]>, > 'Brandel_jerryemailmsncom' <[email protected]>, > 'mrmungoInfoAveNet' <[email protected]>, > 'Jdrosamondmsncom' <[email protected]>, > 'Ebowie2357aolcom' <[email protected]>, 'Brendaabbnacom' > <[email protected]>, > 'bherhseyjunocom' <[email protected]>, 'hamimediaonenet' > <[email protected]>, > 'cmitchocbuaolcom' <[email protected]> >X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) >Original-recipient: rfc822;[email protected] > >Dear Hodges Descendant, > >Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Hodges Cemetery in Greenwood >County, South Carolina. > >I have received several reports of vandalism at the Hodges Cemetery, and I >understand your frustration concerning the ongoing problems at the >cemetery. Unfortunately, incidents of similar vandalism and neglect are >happening with increasing frequency across the state, as they probably are >in other states as well. The SC Department of Archives and History has >tried to do what is within its power to increase awareness of cemetery >protection and the proper techniques for caring for cemetery >resources. The Agency has published several booklets and fact sheets >about cemetery protection; it has held workshops on cemetery issues; it >sponsors a cemetery survey program with the South Carolina Confederation >of Local Historical Societies; and it has allocated some of its limited >grant funds to several cemetery preservation projects. > >South Carolina's laws concerning cemetery protection are clear, and it is >the responsibility of local law enforcement to enforce the law. It is not >within the power of Archives and History to enforce laws protecting >cemeteries although we certainly wish we could do more. Attached is the >text of a letter from Rodger Stroup, the Director of the SC Department of >Archives and History to the Greenwood County Sheriff making him aware of >the situation and asking for his assistance in protecting Hodges >Cemetery. As you can see I've sent copies of the letter to quite a few >people including some that you have been communicating with and other >members of local government who should be made aware of the >situation. Hopefully our letter will put a little more pressure on the >local authorities who either need to enforce the law or need to be made >aware of the situation. > >In addition, I encourage you and other interested parties to work with >local entities, such as the Greenwood County Historical Society and the >Index Journal. They are in the position to monitor the situation at the >cemetery and see if anything is being done to protect it. I also >encourage a representative to contact Keith Derting at the South Carolina >Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at 803-777-8170. He will be >able to help your representative register the cemetery as an >archaeological site. The Institute records all archaeological sites in >the state, and anyone checking those records will be able to find >information about the cemetery. Someone might also contact Greenwood >County to see if they will record the site on their maps. This might >provide some protection if there are requests for zoning changes or >building permits. > >There is no easy solution to this situation. We must work within the >boundaries set by South Carolina law. Putting pressure on local law >enforcement, gathering local support, increasing local awareness, and >soliciting the support of the media are the available means to protect >this cemetery. > >Stephen Skelton >Supervisor, Preservation Programs >SC Department of Archives and History >July 09, 2001 > >Sheriff Sam Riley >Greenwood Law Enforcement Center >Edgefield Avenue >Greenwood, SC 29646 > > Re: Hodges Cemetery > >Dear Sheriff Riley, > >Over the last several months we have received numerous inquiries regarding >damage to the Hodges Cemetery in Greenwood County. The cemetery is >located near Hodges off SC 374. > >It is our understanding that the Piney Grove Go Kart track is located >directly adjacent to the cemetery and that both the track and the cemetery >are owned by Mr. Thomas Buzhardt. Visitors to the cemetery describe >broken tombstones, broken beer bottles and other debris, portable toilets >within a few feet of graves and obvious pathways through the cemetery >demonstrating inappropriate use and treatment of the cemetery. In 1995 >Mrs. Mary Clyde Mungo reported this activity to the Attorney General who >in turn contacted the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office. The situation >regarding this cemetery has not improved since 1995. > >As you know, SC Code of Laws 16-17-600 makes it a felony to destroy or >desecrate not only human remains but also burial grounds, gravestones, and >fences or plant material associated with burial grounds. Clearly this is >the activity occurring at the Hodges Cemetery. All too often when >descendants no longer own family cemeteries or small cemeteries are >forgotten they do not receive the respect due out or common courtesy, much >less that required by state law. The law does not require a property >owner to maintain a cemetery on his land, but vandalism should be >prevented if possible, by the owner and local law enforcement, if >necessary. I ask you to work with the property owner, the track manager, >and interested citizens to enforce the law to prevent the type of >vandalism that is occurring at the Hodges Cemetery. My staff will provide >to the owner and other interested parties technical information related to >the repair and maintenance of the tombstones. > >Cemeteries are an important and increasingly endangered cultural resource >in South Carolina. The inquiries we have received regarding the Hodges >Cemetery demonstrate the public's desire to protect this type of >resource. I trust that you will do what you can to help protect not only >the Hodges Cemetery but also the other historic cemeteries of Greenwood >County. Please contact Stephen Skelton at 803-896-6183 if you have any >questions. >Sincerely, > > > >Rodger E. Stroup Director and State Historic Preservation Officer > >Cc: The Honorable James H. Hodges, Governor > Charles Condon, Attorney General > Sen. Strom Thurmond > Sen. John Drummond > Rep. Marion Carnell > James Kier, Greenwood County Manager > Charles M. Watson, Jr., Greenwood County Attorney > Gonza Bryant, Greenwood County Chairman > The Greenwood Index Journal >Erna Jacobs, Public Information Officer, Office of the Governor >Mrs. W. D. Coleman, Greenwood County Historical Society >Patricia Edmonds, Upper Savannah Council of Governments