I understand your points completely. My question as to WHO authorized the repair was because I understood it may have been a scout project. If the repair was done with authorization by another family member, that would be different. If not, and if Theresa would have to incur expense to correct this problem, then why shouldn't she have the right to ask the person who authorized the incorrect setting/repair to reimburse her? I agree with you strongly, though, that where there is no descendant family identified to provide permission, how would that affect the good work that you all do? It's a tough question. Because these markers are usually of the historic era, would we be allowed to automatically assume that what we do to assist the preservation of these stones is for the public good and, by benefit of that fact, the need to obtain permission from the "owners" of the stones is unnecessary under certain circumstances? Or, if the cemetery is under the authority of the township trustees, would they be allowed to determine it is in the public good and be within their right to authorize such things? Finally, there was some discussion a year or so ago about getting some regulation deeming the stones to be historic artifacts. In that case one might wonder if repair or restoration would ever be approved in that most artifacts are required to be left in the condition that they are found. Again, I don't know about Indiana law on this subject, only what I've written about California statutes. Unfortunately in California, the private operators are stripping these stones out of the cemeteries as a rapid pace. I would want to see that happen in Indiana where your pioneers have rested far longer than ours! Sue Silver ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 7:10 AM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] screaming > In a message dated 10/10/2004 7:33:30 AM Central Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > > So if the stones remain personal property of the family do we have to get > > permission from the trustees, or owner to repair a family headstone? Does > > this only apply to direct ancestors or do third cousins seven times removed > > count? > > > > Brad > > > > This group has always advocated getting a permission slip from the township > trustee or cemetery board before beginning any work in these pioneer > cemeteries. Many times there are no family members left to give this permission and > since the trustee is responsible for maintaining public cemeteries, that's where > the permission is obtained from. I only wanted to make the case that IF they > did have this type of permission, which this group strongly supports, we > should tread carefully in condemning them for messing with someone's ancestor's > grave stone. The members of this list are continuously working on someone's > ancestor's grave stones and have as much or little right to do so as anyone else. > Obviously, the case against their technique is a whole separate issue. > > Kyle > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > INPCRP State Coordinator: Brad Manzenberger < [email protected] > > http://www.inpcrp.org > >