Hello everyone, I am sending this out to all the listgroups that I receive, because I feel that it is very important that everyone knows about this. Maybe if enough people respond to their state governments, we can stop this needless destruction of our ancestors graves. Thanks, Jennifer Tullis On Mon, 31 Aug 1998 [email protected] wrote: Dear family members, fellow family historians, genealogical researchers, and friends, Rarely have I been so moved to take action as I am this evening. A fellow family history researcher, Berdine Payne, forwarded to me an e-mail which contained a newspaper article describing the unfortunate fate of the historic Rhodes pioneer family cemetery in Wayne Township, Indiana. The Clydes, Weales, Gibsons, and many of their allied families have ancestors who lived and died in Indiana. This story effected me even more so as a result of that realization. The Indianapolis Star & News article by Bill Shaw (Aug 22, 1998), "THE DEATH OF A CEMETERY - WAYNE TOWNSHIP GRAVEYARD DESTROYED FOR WAREHOUSE...." explains how the demolition of the cemetery occurred. Duke Realty Investments, Inc. purchased the 21.2 acres of land where the final remains of forty-three members of the Rhoads, Foltz, Shute and Rude families lay. Thirty-five graves of the one tenth acre pioneer cemetery contain remains of children. The article explains that a cemetery was not in the plans for their development of the site. In a callous display of disrespect for the dead and of complete disregard for Hoosier heritage, Duke Realty Investments, Inc. proceeded to systematically demolish the cemetery in preparation for the construction of a massive warehouse. Bones removed, tombstones destroyed, stately trees knocked down, hill leveled. All traces of the cemetery obliterated. Legally! Indiana state law allows property owners to demolish the cemeteries on their land. It allows them to "Throw away the tombstones, plant corn, or build a warehouse on the graves." Is nothing sacred in the quest to satisfy corporate and stock holder greed? I urge you to visit the Weales Family History & Genealogy Web site to read the full article and to take action. Use the resources shown on the Web page and in this message to let your voice be heard. Please write the Governor of Indiana and the members of the Indiana General Assembly and let them know that Indiana laws must be changed to protect our national and state heritage through the preservation of cemeteries and family plots. Let them know what you think about Duke Realty Investments, Inc. and others actions to obliterate the final resting places of our families. Please forward this to your family, friends, and anyone else who may take an interest and action. I also urge you and them to write your state's elected officials and let them know that you don't want what happened to Rhoads Family Cemetery to happen in your state. Become informed and take action: read our national and state laws; read books; investigate Web resources such as Tomb With A View newsletter; join a local cemetery preservation organization; get involved with Save Texas Cemeteries, Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project or similar organization; and share your thoughts on this issue on the Spinning Weales message board. I sincerely thank you for your time and I wish us all luck in being heard on this issue. (Web-sites for e-mail addresses for Indiana Government, U.S. Government, and state listings at bottom of message) regards, Shannon Clyde Author and Webmaster of: LA_x: The Virtual Home Port of the USS LOS ANGELES, SSN 688 Manatee Junction - Manatees, Dugongs, & Sea Cows Gibson Family History & Genealogy - Allied Families: Bostick, Meneley, Mizell, Lewis & more Weales Family History & Genealogy - Allied Families: Marshall, Keene, Vanbriggle, Warden & more Clyde Family History & Genealogy - Allied Families: Anders, Beever, Christian, Troy & more World Wide Clyde - Portal to Clyde Family Web sites Volunteer focusing on Tank Landing Ships for: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: DANFS ONLINE Former Editor-in-Chief, Compaq Computer Corporation: Enterprise Solutions from Compaq Computer Corporation Web Architect & Project Lead, Compaq Computer Corporation: activeAnswers Office of the Governor - State of Indiana - http://www.ai.org/gov/index.html Office of the Lieutenant Governor - State of Indiana - http://www.state.in.us/lgov/ e-mail & Postal addresses of the Indiana General Assembly Legislators - http://www.state.in.us/cgi-bin/legislative/legislator_list.cgi U.S. House of Representatives Contact Information - http://www.naesp.org/hse.htm Environmental News: Action E-Mail - http://www.adventurewest.com/e_news/g_link.htm Yahoo Directory of Federal Govenment - http://www.yahoo.com/Government/U_S__Government/ Yahoo State Government Information List - All States - http://www.yahoo.com/Government/U_S__Government/State_Government/