Hi Jack, Yes, I do remember the discussion here on the list...must have been 4 or 5 years ago? It seems that there are quite a few of these prairie reserves around the state. I would hope that some of them are being managed well, and that the native grasses, wild flowers, and of course the cemetery monuments and other features are being closely monitored by the scientists who established and continue this experimental preseervation. This isn't the case here at Granville as it wasn't at St. John's. The prairie grasses aren't flourishing, but diminishing. The monuments are more rapidly deteriorating than they otherwise would if the cemetery were kept up. And finally, the remains of the people who are buried here aren't safe either. None of the conditions under which this nature preserve was initially created are being met and the status quo isn't beneficial to anyone. I can't think of a single reason why the burning should continue at Granville? If someone can make the case, I'm sure we'd all like to hear it? Thanks for writing Jack, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com 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.