It was hotter than a 'fire cracker' when I headed for Decatur County the other day.. I wanted to stop at the Chastain Cemetery and get photos - so I put my 'hog boots' in the trunk of my car, armed myself with my trusty map (uh, huh...) water, and everything else on my visiting cemeteries 'LIST'.. You might remember that I wanted to go to the cemetery a few months ago, and Mr. Yoder said the cow lot you have to walk thru wouldn't be dried out until August. It was dried out o.k. -- and smelling really good after a few days without rain. There are a number of headstones that have fallen over and it hadn't been mowed for a while. I headed on to find Union Cemetery, Morgan Township. Should have spent a little extra time on the map, as I got completely turned around and went a few miles out of my way.. Ended up in Lineville and a couple of guys drew a little map to show me the area it was in.. So, I headed back and on to County Road J66. I followed the map and was still lost and frustrated; talked to a fellow in a log home, who told me I hadn't gone far enough. . . so I continued on.. I turned on the gravel road that the map showed and drove a ways (too far)... So, I stopped at a house where a little boy was playing in the yard and I asked him to find his Mom or Dad so I could talk to them... His mom came out and she said she knew where the cemetery was, as she had gone with her dad, Mike Andrew, to mow it and the others in Morgan Township when she was younger. Wow, I was tickled.. She said she would drive to it and I could follow her -- so that's what we did. Now, for the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. There is no sign on the road for Union Cemetery, so if you didn't have a clue where it is, you'd never get to see it. You have to drive into Rex Stutz' drive; thru the side yard and on back on a short dirt road to get to the cemetery. They have planted a field of sweet corn, which you have to drive around. When we got out of our cars, here came Mr. Stutz on his 4-wheeler, having a hissy fit' that we hadn't stopped and cleared it with him to go back there. Then his wife came on another 4-wheeler and was even more 'verbal' about it. I explained that I was just there to take pics of the headstones and would be on my way. Apparently there has been a 'feud' of some kind between Mr. Stutz and the lady who showed me how to get there. They don't want people driving back there and complained that we drove too fast (WHICH WE DID NOT). So, the lady left and I proceeded to get to the picture taking -- and it was so hot, all I did was sweat... Then came the Sheriff's Deputy - who was friendly - to tell me about the 'feud' that had been brewing since Mr. Stutz had bought the property that should have had access to the cemetery. Then Mr. Stutz came back on his 4-wheeler and was quite friendly to me -- and said I should stop for a glass of lemonade (YEAH RIGHT!!) and shook my hand. while the Sheriff's Deputy was still there. Wish I'd had my blue "Garden Queen" hat with the feathers, on, with my bright pink Iowa T-shirt --- I'd have just claimed to be "stupid"........ I have to say that I'm very glad this is the last 'out of the way' cemetery I have to find. This wasn't a pleasant experience and doesn't look like it s going to change any time soon. The trustees have wanted to put the Union Cemetery sign on the road, but Mr. Stutz wants to be a 'land baron' and control, control, control.... The Sheriff's Deputy said the original plat shows a 'trail' going back to the cemetery, but the sweet corn patch is planted there now. When the Law is on his side - what happens then? I thought there was open access to all Decatur County cemeteries; even when you have to cross someone's land to get there.. Who knows!! There is a very interesting headstone that I will tell about in another email... As Always, Nancee