Most definitely, Sue! Here in Washington, most of the cemeteries seemed to have caretakers up until then...people from the neighborhood or interested community members. We also saw a lot of organizations that took care of cemeteries. But with the depression, much of that stopped. Many of our cemeteries here started disappearing with the forests growing back at around the time of the depression and just after. Now, we are hard put to find anyone willing to take over the care of a cemetery, and those that do are usurped by laws, nasty neighbors, government rules, and just about every other inconvenience. -------------- Andrea D. MacDonald "Andi" andimac@oz.net Washington State Cemetery Association http://www.rootsweb.com/~wapsgs/ "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Silver" <ssilver1951@jps.net> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 9:44 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Cemetery Laws & Such > You are so right in many respects. > > I was speaking of the time pre-20th Century. I know we had people using > cemetery stones for foundations here also, but that was in the 1920's and > 1930's. I've found so many things began happening that are consistent with > those time periods. I'm wondering if the economic depression forced people > to do things ("make do") that they ordinarily would not have done. There > has to be something that went on - we see it in the supervision of the > cemeteries also. Before 1920, there was always a community member who > seemed to be "in charge". After 1920 and after, they all sort of > disappeared. > > Anyone notice this also? > > Sue > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Christine West" <cherokee@shelbynet.net> > To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 9:12 PM > Subject: [INPCRP] Cemetery Laws & Such > > > > Sue wrote: > > > You know, in the past, people would never have considered building their > > house or a barn on a cemetery. It just wasn't done. They had respect. > > What happened? > > > > > > > > > Not wanting to detract from Sue's message about comparing laws of other > > states, but this statement has always bothered me. We hear it a lot, but > it > > isn't really very true. Here in Bartholomew County, we have "rumors" that > > were written down by historians as early as 1930 that tell of barns in the > > county whose foundations were constructed of tombstones from a cemetery, > now > > not even known exactly where it even was. A drywell "near Edinburgh" was > > lined with every stone from an old cemetery. A grave was discovered at > the > > intersection of 2 roads near where a new Menards will be located soon, and > > all that was known about it at the time it was written down was that a > > witness who was a boy at the time it was unearthed and an 80 year old man > > when it was written down, still recalled how no one remembered or could > even > > guess who it was or would have been, but a single button of a > revolutionary > > war uniform was found with it. The Lewelling family cemetery was > purposely > > plowed under by a farmer in about 1940 who did not even own the 1/4 acre > it > > sat on. We know he did it on purpose because he actually dug a grave and > > laid the 4 remaining headstones in it, so they wouldn't keep popping up as > > he farmed it. He was the son of a state legislator at the time! > > > > While we are amazed at what we see happen in our times, I am thankful we > > have the hope of seeing in our lifetime the correction or at least the > > elimination of further such atrocities. I can't imagine how anyone, > > yesterday, today or 60 years ago could knowingly remove headstones from > > graves, but we know it happens. I am very glad we have this forum that > > allows us to voice our stories and learn from one another about this > subject > > we have all chosen to become a part of. I would like to thank everyone > who > > has replied to my recent question about the excepted cemetery status. I > > believe Jack has rightly pinpointed that we need to document these > apparent > > loop-holes in our new codes and do what we can to see them corrected. > > > > I was pleased to see that one change that was made in 2001 to the laws > > written in 2000 was that it defined a little more for us what a "recorded > > cemetery" was. I agree again with Jack about the tax-break for cemetery > > owners. I read that one and could not even come up with a comparable > > situation that I knew of. Not just does it not clearly define what the > > landowners responsibilities are after declaring such a break, but most > > cemeteries not owned by a church or municipality are going to be less than > > one acre. Anyone who has ever had property surveyed, you know the possible > > high cost of having a surveyor come out and perform such a service, > > especially to the letter that is described in the new code, telling him > > exactly how much documentation is required. It doesn't seem worth it > > money-wise for them to even try to declare it for tax purposes. > > > > The other "loop-hole" that needs addressed is WHICH OFFICE HOLDER is > > responsible for catching these cemeteries. In general conversation, I > have > > them all agreeing with me, but ask ANY of them and the AUDITOR, SURVEYOR, > > COMMISSIONER and RECORDER all shake their heads and say it is not their > > responsibility. The new law says the auditor shall require the deed to be > > written a certain way, but if they don't know there is a cemetery there, > how > > will they know to require a special statement on the deed? > > > > Anyway, again, thank you for all of the input. > > > > Cris West > > Columbus, IN > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Please do not send queries through this list. > > >