In a message dated 4/5/06 8:58:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rgreen@insightbb.com writes: > From:rgreen@insightbb.com > Reply-to:INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com > To:INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com > Sent from the Internet > > > > Hello the list: > > I thought I'd seen some pretty bad cemeteries, but the Granville Cemetery, > Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County has definitely made the hit parade! This > has to be one of the most appalling I've seen particularly since its > destruction has essentially been on purpose. > > This is one of those lasting experiments from the 1960's intended to save > native prairie grasses by permitting and enabling them to flourish in > abandoned 19th century pioneer cemeteries. Part of the process involves > occasional burning, and the grasses were burned this Spring. I recall this > topic having been debated on the list, perhaps several years ago, and the > main focus then was on the potential destructive effects of multiple > episodes of extreme heating of monuments. This aside, what I witnessed > today was a far worse secondary impact of this particular prairie grass > preserve. > It is my understanding that Wayne township does not have responsibility > for > this cemetery, but rather it has apparently been managed by Indiana > Department of Natural Resources since sometime before 1969. The native > prairie grasses now contain large quantities of non-native vegetation, in > particular thickets of multiflora rose that remain today after the March > burning. In my opinion, this "nature preserve" has been mismanaged at the > expense of perhaps as many as 200 hundred or more graves of Tippecanoe > County pioneers. > > > > "Granville Cemetery was once part of the great Wea Plains and still contains > > many species of the original prairie vegetation. This is one of the last > remnants of the Indiana prairies that covered much of Tippecanoe County. It > > is preserved and managed as a memorial to the Indians and early settlers to > whom these grasses were once familiar." > > Having said all of this, it is my sincere hope that this nature preserve > experiment gone awry will be abandoned and that funds will be made available > > by the state of Indiana to assist in the restoration and ongoing maintenance > > of this early cemetery. > > I will be adding some of the many photos I took today to my website, and > will post the address here when it is available. > > Best Regards, > > Rich Green > Rich, If you remember St Johns Cemetery in Morgan Twp. in Harrison Co, it was burned regularly. It DID DAMAGE THE STONES. It was burned by the Nature Preserve. I was told by several on the List that I could not change their practice of Burning Well, I persevered and they finally relented and I met with 2 representatives of the Nature preserve (The sign said; A Division of the DNR.) I met with them and the Twp. Trustee. We finally agreed to Remove a Large wooden State Park type 3 x 8 ft. sign and put up a small 12 inch X 20 inch sign like a Picture I had with me from up North somewhere. The Burning was stopped and the Trustee mows the cemetery November 1 each year. I know that is not what I would like to have accomplished, but it was a Hell of a lot better treatment than the cemetery had before I complained. This had been going on since 1980 when the earlier lazy Trustee would not mow it, so the Nature Preserve came in and took over and said it was part of the earlier Prairie like my Grandfather saw when he lived there. No he didn't, he tried to kill every weed he could so his crops would grow. It seems like the DNR is more concerned with the weeds than the cemeteries.You have to keep after them, or they figure you will give up and they can keep up the same old stuff. Good Luck to all on the Granville Cemetery, IM with you for what ever that is worth. Jack E. Briles Sr. jackbriles@aol.com New Albany, In.

In a message dated 4/7/06 2:20:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time, scotstout@aol.com writes: > do you think it would help to contact the local media (newspapers & tv > stations)? > > I dont think so, I cant find a deed, so its mine and two elderly local residents word as opposed to the clear field of the developer. But I may try next week. Jack

Ernie wrote: "Since his family has owned the land for 125 years, can he rename the cemetery and declare it as his final resting place? There is no official law on naming a cemetery. Unfortunately, people rename them to suit their needs." Ernie, A family tried to rename a pioneer cemetery in Hancock Co. after they decided they wanted to be buried in it (and were allowed to do so). It caused a big stink with Arnett family descendants - Arnett being the original name of the cemetery. It was finally agreed upon that the cemetery will finally be known as The Arnett-Lowder Cemetery. I hate it when people decide to change history to fit their egos. Have you looked at the old plat maps/atlases that show the cemetery and the cemetery's name? If you show them PROOF of the cemetery's real name, it should stay the same. You also might want to mention that it will be difficult for genealogists, family members and descendants to find the cemetery if the cemetery's name is changed; and ask the questions "What right does this gentleman have to rename a cemetery just because his family owned the ground where the cemetery is located? What right does he have to change history?" Good luck! I would like to know how this works out. Angela Tielking

do you think it would help to contact the local media (newspapers & tv stations)? -----Original Message----- From: Jackbriles@aol.com To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 12:41:18 EDT Subject: [INPCRP] McCutchan Cemetery Jeannie, In reference to the Destroyed cemetery I wrote you about, if they are allowed to continue with the project as now planed, they will dig into Human Remains. I also received 3 photographs from a 3rd party whom I cannot find yet. She sent pictures of exactly where the cemetery was before it was destroyed. She claims to have received her information from a 4th party who remembers where it was. This party is not 88 year old Mrs. Elsie Fenwick who has lived a mile away since she was born and remembered the cemetery from her childhood. I have checked the Recorders office records and so far have not found a Deed, or an Exception. I am not through yet. I hear that the Developer is going to go ahead with his present Plat in May if he gets approval. It is my suggestion that Ground Penetrating Radar should be used on the site. The Lafayette Twp. Trustee will not pay for anything. All he does is claim his cemetery funds and whatever else he has to do. As I said, I am putting the DNR and DHPA on notice that if this proceeds as planned the Developer will in all likelihood, dig into Human Remains. The lady that sent me the pictures said the same thing. I WILL FIND HER AND HER SOURCE. I have spent Countless hours on this and so far all I have found is 2 elderly people who remember where it was. The stones were supposedly thrown in a nearby natural drainage ditch, but since the property has been sold, I do not have permission to go on it. The Developer would have me arrested. You now know what is going on, there is nothing else I can do. If the state cant do anything, then its all over for those buried there. Jack E. Briles Sr. jackbriles@aol.com PO Box 444 New Albany, In. (812)282-6585 ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of "UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST@rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version)

Jeannie, In reference to the Destroyed cemetery I wrote you about, if they are allowed to continue with the project as now planed, they will dig into Human Remains. I also received 3 photographs from a 3rd party whom I cannot find yet. She sent pictures of exactly where the cemetery was before it was destroyed. She claims to have received her information from a 4th party who remembers where it was. This party is not 88 year old Mrs. Elsie Fenwick who has lived a mile away since she was born and remembered the cemetery from her childhood. I have checked the Recorders office records and so far have not found a Deed, or an Exception. I am not through yet. I hear that the Developer is going to go ahead with his present Plat in May if he gets approval. It is my suggestion that Ground Penetrating Radar should be used on the site. The Lafayette Twp. Trustee will not pay for anything. All he does is claim his cemetery funds and whatever else he has to do. As I said, I am putting the DNR and DHPA on notice that if this proceeds as planned the Developer will in all likelihood, dig into Human Remains. The lady that sent me the pictures said the same thing. I WILL FIND HER AND HER SOURCE. I have spent Countless hours on this and so far all I have found is 2 elderly people who remember where it was. The stones were supposedly thrown in a nearby natural drainage ditch, but since the property has been sold, I do not have permission to go on it. The Developer would have me arrested. You now know what is going on, there is nothing else I can do. If the state cant do anything, then its all over for those buried there. Jack E. Briles Sr. jackbriles@aol.com PO Box 444 New Albany, In. (812)282-6585

Kyle, Interestingly, I think our INPCRP coordinator, LA Clugh, has relatives in the cemetery that she hasn't been able to find. From what I understand, some of her people used to homestead and farm an area adjacent to this cemetery. This site is a stones throw from the Wabash and Erie Canal, so I imagine we have some immigrant canal workers buried here as well. Just down the road a bit is another cemetery along the extinct canal that is supposed to include a mass burial of Irish canal workers. The Granville cemetery, as it is currently fenced, is approximately .6 acres in size. This is enough room for as many as 250 burials. There are some stones outside the fence as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more than 200 in there. Incidentally, the latest burial, if memory serves me correctly, was 1906. There are surely some relatives; whether they still live in the area or not, I can't be sure. This part of the county is under development, and new houses are springing up around Granville. The current residents, at least those that came by while we were out there, are concerned about the state of the cemetery. When I spoke to the township trustee, he allowed as how complaints are typical, usually every Fall, about the overgrown condition. I imagine that some of these are probably from genealogists and or relatives trying to track down ancestors, and that they probably didn't buy the explanation on the sign either. I'm pretty sure that local awareness of this ongoing problem will be escalated now; at least there is that hope. We'll still probably need to fan the flames a bit, but we'll make sure it's a controlled (civil) burn. Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: KidClerk@aol.com To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery photos Squeaky Wheel: (Rich) Are there any descendents of those buried at the Granville cemetery still living in the area or known to be living? I would think that the DNR or a local Court of Law would have to review the situation if a petition were submitted stating that the DNR's actions are causing harm to the integrity of the cemetery. Kyle ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Squeaky Wheel: (Rich) Are there any descendents of those buried at the Granville cemetery still living in the area or known to be living? I would think that the DNR or a local Court of Law would have to review the situation if a petition were submitted stating that the DNR's actions are causing harm to the integrity of the cemetery. Kyle

In a message dated 04/07/2006 7:08:50 A.M. Central Standard Time, rgreen@insightbb.com writes: Kyle, As usual you have followed my train of thought. Rich: This should be of tremendous concern to you... :) Kyle

Kyle, As usual you have followed my train of thought. However, it really wasn't as much my intention to debate the pros and cons of burning in a cemetery, as it is to understand the ancillary problems that have arisen in this particular prairie preserve. I think the naturalists will maintain the party line that there is no direct damage to the stones, and it may indeed be negligible in some instances. However, the stones in this cemetery are in a sad state of disrepair, with some laying flat on the ground, others partially buried by the remnants of burned vegetation and debris. Common sense suggests that the wear to these particular stones is being accelerated, but again this really wasn't the crux of my argument. It is the fact that those who are in charge of perpetuating the prairie grasses have neglected to manage their garden competently allowing other non-native plants to take large sections of the site. Most of the northern terminus, as well as, around the edges of the cemetery is covered in multiflora rose and the northeast corner is a thicket. Post burning observation of the cemetery reveals this even to the untrained eye. While there are no apparent burials in some areas (lack of monuments), we did find one of the pieces of coffin furniture in the backdirt of an animal burrow where there is no stone. As in most of these 19th century cemeteries, there are ALWAYS many more burials than can be observed on the surface. I suspect that there are perhaps scores of stones that are buried just below the surface that we just can't see, and probably many more graves that just don't have markers. The animal burrows cannot have gone unnoticed. A blind man couldn't walk through this site without finding an animal burrow (and probably a broken ankle). I simply can't understand why the many craters and the backdirt with glacial gravel piles weren't observed as a serious problem by the ecologists? Some of these burrows are undermining stones and are obviously into graves as well. It is apparent to me that those who have been in charge of this prairie grass preserve have no more respect for the folks and families of those who are buried here than they do the prairie grasses that are clearly diminishing in this cemetery. This may seem like a harsh assessment of the person's job performance; nevertheless, it is warranted by the facts. I think it's time to take back this cemetery, repair and restore what is left of it. And, it is clear to me that the brunt of the restoration costs should fall on those responsible. The township trustees office can probably find future funding for ongoing maintenance, but the state bears the responsibility for this and should pick up some of the initial costs to correct this problem. I'm sure that there can be some room left for prairie grasses somewhere on the site, but someone needs to take immediate control of this cemetery's repair and maintenance. It should not be left as is. Regards, Squeaky Wheel Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: KidClerk@aol.com To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 6:33 AM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery photos Thanks for the photos Rich. I feel better now seeing them. I'm sure the stones that are turning black are from some cause other than the burning of the weeds since this causes no damage to the stones. OK...on a more serious note... it would appear to me, based on your pictures, that there is a rather large area of this cemetery where there are no burials, or at least no stones. Why can't that area be left to grow wild and the area where the tombstones are be maintained? Would that not accomplish the same thing without compromising the integrity of the burial area? The author of the wording on that historical marker deserves an award for making cemetery neglect sound like a tribute to our pioneer and indian ancestors. Kyle D. Conrad ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== THIS IS A CEMETERY ----- "Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is undisguised. This is a cemetery. "Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched. "Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life - not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living. "A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always." --Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, IA

Thanks for the photos Rich. I feel better now seeing them. I'm sure the stones that are turning black are from some cause other than the burning of the weeds since this causes no damage to the stones. OK...on a more serious note... it would appear to me, based on your pictures, that there is a rather large area of this cemetery where there are no burials, or at least no stones. Why can't that area be left to grow wild and the area where the tombstones are be maintained? Would that not accomplish the same thing without compromising the integrity of the burial area? The author of the wording on that historical marker deserves an award for making cemetery neglect sound like a tribute to our pioneer and indian ancestors. Kyle D. Conrad

In a message dated 4/6/06 9:38:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, elasley@sigecom.net writes: > At 06:45 PM 04/06/2006, you wrote: > >Hey Ernie, > > > >The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in this case. LA was > >cleaning stones out there the other day and she allowed as how some > >of the inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of death. I'm not > >sure which diseases lie dormant in the grave and which don't, but I > >suppose exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? > > > >Regards, > > > >Rich Green > > Erni, and Rich, I E-mailed the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Ga. 2 years ago and I was assured there was no problem handling remains after a long period of time. You can sure take that for what its worth. !! I was inquiring about Arsenic Specifically, but that was the answer I got, as well as take precautions when Disinterring human remains. Jack Briles Jack Briles

YES.....it is a real and alive problem......because this is also the way of NA burials in many places; I speak of the NM Pueblos.....one of the Pueblos had a real concern regarding smallpox...so did not use that cemetery any more.... also..wasn't there a case on a body found in Greenland and the 1918 flu virus was still active.....or potentially active??? Sue is right about the arsenic and there was discussion about that on this site a year or more ago. It is a real concern regarding NA Artifacts because arsenic as well as other home "preservatives" were used by those anthro/archeology guys/gals ..out in the field...which is why we have contaminated artifacts today....sigh~~~ Marilynn in NM

Ernie, I don't know much about this subject at all; although, it seems as though I read somewhere that there were certain illnesses that could be caused by handling material from graves and dead bodies. I probably didn't save it because it's not something I'm likely to be involved with often, but if I can find it again It's send you a copy. Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Ernie & Connie Lasley To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:35 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery & the DHPA and DNR. We had discussed health hazards in these old graves before, and no one really came up with a good answer. In the Katrina aftermath there were some concerns over old graves and above ground vaults that were washed out in the storm. From Joshua Slocum, National Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA): "I sincerely doubt there is anything left of those bodies after all these years besides a few bones. Disease microbes, as far as I know, reside in the soft tissue, which has long, long since gone away. Besides, with rare exceptions (such as the prions that cause mad cow disease), disease dies with the body, or shortly after death. Disease-causing bacteria and viruses don't somehow hole up and go dormant for years in corpses, waiting to be reawakened" And from Dr. Joseph Guarisco, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans: ". . . dead bodies should not be a disease concern to the public. Let's just make it real clear: Dead bodies in and of themselves ­ while they are mental health issues and tragic ­ they are not a public health issue from an infectious disease standpoint at all." So this may answer the lingering question about cholera and the plagues remaining dormant for years in graves??? I don't know if that would be enough to ease my mind if exposed to the remains. I think I would still take precautions. At 06:45 PM 04/06/2006, you wrote: >Hey Ernie, > >The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in >this case. LA was cleaning stones out there the >other day and she allowed as how some of the >inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of >death. I'm not sure which diseases lie dormant >in the grave and which don't, but I suppose >exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? > >Regards, > >Rich Green ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Here was my answer to the new burial issue: Ernie: So the big question is, can a person be buried in an old Pioneer Cemetery? Burials are the jurisdiction of the Board of Health. Check with your local Board of Health to see about this issue. Since his family has owned the land for 125 years, can he rename the cemetery and declare it as his final resting place? There is no official law on naming a cemetery. Unfortunately, people rename them to suit their needs. There are existing laws that a cemetery must be platted and must have a perpetual care fund before a person can be buried there? You are correct, but again, this falls under the Board of Health. What about "disposal of a body" laws? Department of Health Is the funeral home responsible for determining if the selected burial place is legal and proper? I am not sure of the answer to this question. Will digging a grave there violate the DNR and DHPA rule on needing a permit to disturb the earth within 100 feet of a cemetery? No, if the digging falls under the General Cemetery Act. Whose responsibility is it to enforce those laws? Mostly for what you describe, Department of Health. Let me know if I helped or only made matters worse. Jeannie Jeannie Regan-Dinius Special Projects Coordinator DNR-DHPA 402 W. Washington Street, W274 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739 317/232-1646 317/232-0693 At 06:45 PM 04/06/2006, you wrote: >Hey Ernie, > >The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in this case. LA was >cleaning stones out there the other day and she allowed as how some >of the inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of death. I'm not >sure which diseases lie dormant in the grave and which don't, but I >suppose exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? > >Regards, > >Rich Green

We had discussed health hazards in these old graves before, and no one really came up with a good answer. In the Katrina aftermath there were some concerns over old graves and above ground vaults that were washed out in the storm. From Joshua Slocum, National Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA): "I sincerely doubt there is anything left of those bodies after all these years besides a few bones. Disease microbes, as far as I know, reside in the soft tissue, which has long, long since gone away. Besides, with rare exceptions (such as the prions that cause mad cow disease), disease dies with the body, or shortly after death. Disease-causing bacteria and viruses don’t somehow hole up and go dormant for years in corpses, waiting to be reawakened" And from Dr. Joseph Guarisco, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans: “. . . dead bodies should not be a disease concern to the public. Let’s just make it real clear: Dead bodies in and of themselves ­ while they are mental health issues and tragic ­ they are not a public health issue from an infectious disease standpoint at all.” So this may answer the lingering question about cholera and the plagues remaining dormant for years in graves??? I don't know if that would be enough to ease my mind if exposed to the remains. I think I would still take precautions. At 06:45 PM 04/06/2006, you wrote: >Hey Ernie, > >The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in >this case. LA was cleaning stones out there the >other day and she allowed as how some of the >inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of >death. I'm not sure which diseases lie dormant >in the grave and which don't, but I suppose >exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? > >Regards, > >Rich Green

Hey Ernie, The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in this case. LA was cleaning stones out there the other day and she allowed as how some of the inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of death. I'm not sure which diseases lie dormant in the grave and which don't, but I suppose exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Ernie & Connie Lasley To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 7:32 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery & the DHPA and DNR. I doubt the DNR or the DHPA will be concerned over the exposed human remains, they will just refer you to your local Board of Health or Department of Health. That was the reply I received concerning a new burial in an old Pioneer Cemetery. At 09:47 PM 04/05/2006, you wrote: >UEB, > >Thanks for the info. >I did report this to DHPA today, so they are aware of the exposed >human remains. We'll have to see how this plays out. > >Thanks again, > >Rich Green ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== THIS IS A CEMETERY ----- "Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is undisguised. This is a cemetery. "Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched. "Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life - not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living. "A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always." --Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, IA

Bio-forensic specialists disagree on diseases that can be contracted from the grave. Articles in early California gold rush newspapers swore that Cholera and Small Pox could be contracted from corpses after burial. No proof was offered or given, just opinion, I think. Arsenic, however, was used for embalming from about the mid-Civil War until about 1910. Undertakers were known to use from 3 oz. to 12 pounds (!) of arsenic to embalm bodies. Arsenic can be ingested, inhaled and absorbed through the skin. It also taints nearby wells by traveling through the ground. Sue in CA ----- Original Message ----- From: Rich Green To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 6:49 PM Subject: [INPCRP] Re: Health Concerns Ernie, I don't know much about this subject at all; although, it seems as though I read somewhere that there were certain illnesses that could be caused by handling material from graves and dead bodies. I probably didn't save it because it's not something I'm likely to be involved with often, but if I can find it again It's send you a copy. Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Ernie & Connie Lasley To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:35 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery & the DHPA and DNR. We had discussed health hazards in these old graves before, and no one really came up with a good answer. In the Katrina aftermath there were some concerns over old graves and above ground vaults that were washed out in the storm. From Joshua Slocum, National Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA): "I sincerely doubt there is anything left of those bodies after all these years besides a few bones. Disease microbes, as far as I know, reside in the soft tissue, which has long, long since gone away. Besides, with rare exceptions (such as the prions that cause mad cow disease), disease dies with the body, or shortly after death. Disease-causing bacteria and viruses don't somehow hole up and go dormant for years in corpses, waiting to be reawakened" And from Dr. Joseph Guarisco, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans: ". . . dead bodies should not be a disease concern to the public. Let's just make it real clear: Dead bodies in and of themselves ­ while they are mental health issues and tragic ­ they are not a public health issue from an infectious disease standpoint at all." So this may answer the lingering question about cholera and the plagues remaining dormant for years in graves??? I don't know if that would be enough to ease my mind if exposed to the remains. I think I would still take precautions. At 06:45 PM 04/06/2006, you wrote: >Hey Ernie, > >The Board of Health might not be a bad idea in >this case. LA was cleaning stones out there the >other day and she allowed as how some of the >inscriptions provided cholera as the cause of >death. I'm not sure which diseases lie dormant >in the grave and which don't, but I suppose >exposure to the remains could be a health hazard? > >Regards, > >Rich Green ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

I doubt the DNR or the DHPA will be concerned over the exposed human remains, they will just refer you to your local Board of Health or Department of Health. That was the reply I received concerning a new burial in an old Pioneer Cemetery. At 09:47 PM 04/05/2006, you wrote: >UEB, > >Thanks for the info. >I did report this to DHPA today, so they are aware of the exposed >human remains. We'll have to see how this plays out. > >Thanks again, > >Rich Green

To the list: As promised, here is a link to the photos taken yesterday at the Granville cemetery. My apologies in advance to those of you with dial-up connections as there are quite a few high-res images on these pages. http://www.har-indy.com/granville_cemetery.html Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com

UEB, Thanks for the info. Incidentally, I forgot to mention that we have a relatively new state park here in the county that has many, many acres of prairie vegetation, and it isn't compromised by non-native plants. I can't imagine that what is left of the prairie in this .6 acre cemetery is contributing much to the overall total? But, then I'm not a botanist or ecologist so I suppose I'm really not qualified to comment on this. My point was and is that this program, no matter how well intentioned originally, obviously hasn't been managed well in this case. Even if you disregard the obvious disrespect for the dead and their families by allowing the site to overgrow with much more than native prairie grasses, there really can be no excuse for failing to observe the craters and mounds of backdirt throughout the site. The human remains were initially observed by children. Seems to me that this should have been noticed by a trained scientist? I did report this to DHPA today, so they are aware of the exposed human remains. We'll have to see how this plays out. Thanks again, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: UEB To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 11:10 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery, Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County Rich, We had the very same problem here in Henry County, but after meeting with the Land Trust people and the Red Tail group and bringing up our concerns over the conditions of the pioneer cemeteries a couple of years ago. When we had the hearings at the State House that was one of our main concerns. It was discussed with the state representatives and the preservation groups. Here is that very report from that hearing. --- **(July, 2003.....The DNR was present, Jeannie was there to answer questions if needed. Which she did. The DNR prairie grass guy (sorry I don't have a name. I am horrible when it comes to names) stated that the prairie grasses in cemeteries are left as a tribute to the pioneers. That little of our prairie grasses are left, due to farming/development, and are mostly found in cemeteries and railroad right-of-ways. That controlled burning goes through fast and does not harm the stones. And after the burning, the headstones are cold to the touch.They were aware of the St. Johns Cemetery and have worked out a solution (which Jack stated in previous e-mail). I believe it was Sen. Rethlake asked the DNR prairie grass specialist if the prairie grass could be transplanted. He answered yes. And that the seed pods could be saved to plant them in other areas. But stated that the 15 cemeteries that contain the prairie grasses were the only ones left undisturbed. He spoke with me after the meeting and said he understood our feelings (and was sincere) about the prairie grass in the cemeteries. I told him that I understood his position as well. That we are both trying to preserve history.) (Angela, HCCC) See the following cemeteries at these links: http://www.hcgs.net/rogerscem.html & http://www.hcgs.net/bundy.html Over the last couple of years since July 2003 we have quit calling each other names and such and have finally started working together. We have accomplished many things with these two cemeteries since that meeting in Indy. They have been cleaned, all grass cut, trashy, rank vegetation removed and all trees trimmed and well maintained now. So don't give up, it takes a little patience and cooperation from both parties. I know... it worked for us. Good luck, **Full report at http://www.hcgs.net/hccc/committeemeeting.html UEB HCCC WWW.HCGS.NET ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich Green" <rgreen@insightbb.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 7:57 PM Subject: [INPCRP] Granville Cemetery, Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County > Hello the list: > > I thought I'd seen some pretty bad cemeteries, but the Granville Cemetery, > Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County has definitely made the hit parade! This > has to be one of the most appalling I've seen particularly since its > destruction has essentially been on purpose. > > This is one of those lasting experiments from the 1960's intended to save > native prairie grasses by permitting and enabling them to flourish in > abandoned 19th century pioneer cemeteries. Part of the process involves > occasional burning, and the grasses were burned this Spring. I recall > this topic having been debated on the list, perhaps several years ago, and > the main focus then was on the potential destructive effects of multiple > episodes of extreme heating of monuments. This aside, what I witnessed > today was a far worse secondary impact of this particular prairie grass > preserve. > > This year's burning revealed that the Granville cemetery is inundated with > woodchuck burrows, and it appears that they have certainly been here for a > while. The woodchuck is a digging machine and in this case the previously > excavated graves make their work somewhat less tasking. The burrows have > undermined many stones, toppling or canting larger monuments, leaving > coffin furniture and yes- human skeletal remains spread about the backdirt > piles. More than a dozen burrows were found, all of which are adversely > impacting the cemetery in one way or another. > > It is apparent that allowing the cemetery to overgrow with vegetation has > created a safe haven and natural habitat for the large tunneling critters. > This probably wasn't anticipated when the notion to save the prairie was > conceived; however, it is very apparent now and to continue this way will > most certainly destroy not only the monuments and other surface features > of this pioneer cemetery, but will also continue to permit the remains of > the good folks buried here to be disturbed in this manner. > > It is my understanding that Wayne township does not have responsibility > for this cemetery, but rather it has apparently been managed by Indiana > Department of Natural Resources since sometime before 1969. The native > prairie grasses now contain large quantities of non-native vegetation, in > particular thickets of multiflora rose that remain today after the March > burning. In my opinion, this "nature preserve" has been mismanaged at the > expense of perhaps as many as 200 hundred or more graves of Tippecanoe > County pioneers. > > A bit of irony from the monument on the Granville Cemetery site: > > "Granville Cemetery was once part of the great Wea Plains and still > contains many species of the original prairie vegetation. This is one of > the last remnants of the Indiana prairies that covered much of Tippecanoe > County. It is preserved and managed as a memorial to the Indians and > early settlers to whom these grasses were once familiar." > > Having said all of this, it is my sincere hope that this nature preserve > experiment gone awry will be abandoned and that funds will be made > available by the state of Indiana to assist in the restoration and ongoing > maintenance of this early cemetery. > > I will be adding some of the many photos I took today to my website, and > will post the address here when it is available. > > Best Regards, > > Rich Green > Historic Archaeological Research > 4338 Hadley Court > West Lafayette, IN 47906 > Office: (765) 464-8735 > Mobile: (765) 427-4082 > www.har-indy.com > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > THIS IS A CEMETERY ----- > "Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families > are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is > undisguised. This is a cemetery. > "Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, > historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched. > "Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved > in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life - > not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family > memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living. > "A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of > yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery > exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always." > --Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, IA > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know.