To: Roger Brick, Well, you put up a good case. HOWEVER, if they intend to leave the cemetery in three foot high grasses (prairie or otherwise), wouldn't it be nice to mow it or burn it off, as you do with your adopted cemetery, for summer visitors? Couldn't the City at least do that much? The early settlers who are buried there were all contributors to this city as well as the county. Some day, the city MIGHT like to know who they were. I still think there is a lot of excuse in that ..."letting it go to it's natural state". Perhaps the City has no responsibility to maintain commercial cemeteries, but then, why is this called The Old City Cemetery? If it truly was a "City Cemetery", I think they do have some responsibility. To: Jack Wilford, Thanks for the addresses. I shall at least write a letter to the Mayor. Maybe others will join me. Harriet Murphy Awapara

Harriet, Nice to hear from you again, It looks like our discussion is focusing some attention on a national problem. Actually I have done quite a bit of research on the care of these "abandoned" cemeteries and where to find finances to maintain them in a "more presentable" state. In many states this obligation is falling on the Counties instead of the cities. Legislation is being presented in 8 or 10 states (to my knowledge) that may require the counties to maintain them. It is a major issue to the counties because they hardly have enough resources to maintain services as is, for the living. And as you know the residents of these cemeteries very seldom vote,. (except in Cook County, Illinois and perhaps Florida) In my opinion you cannot be a more permanent resident in the county than those that are buried in these cemeteries, and we OWE these cemetery residents respect and honor for establishing a place for us to be here and carving out of the wilderness a place for us to live and thrive. Until legislation is passed not only in Missouri but nationwide these "abandoned" cemeteries will have to survive the best that they can with our help. In my opinion, this is a good option for this burial ground and until you or I hit it big in the Powerball Lottery and leave a legacy of $40,000.00 or $50,000.00 per year to the county for the maintaince of these "abandoned" cemeteries it will have to do. To complain to city or county officials will not do "OUR" cause any good. "If you aren't part of the solution then you very well could be part of the problem." Positive actions you can take are: Support the local genealogical and historical societies, form and raise finances to support an "Abandoned Cemetery Association", create and support an interest in the younger generations for respect and honor for history, their ancestors, and care of their relatives final resting place. It will not "probably" happen in the Old City Cemetery in Trenton but it is happening all across our country and that is the destruction of burial grounds for housing development. Property adjacent to current development and a golf course would be a "prime" target. The designation by the Department of Conservation as a "endangered native prairie"could very well be a factor in saving it. (FYI Native Prairie Grasses are usually burnt off every two years, it destroys tree sprouts, and enhances the growth of native wildflowers and grasses. It is usually burnt in April just when it starts to "green" up. The timing is very important, it must be before the native grasses reach a stage where the fire would harm them, and before birds and animals are nesting) It is my understanding that this cemetery has been "read" and the information on the stones is available, so as I see this problem it is a matter of aesthetics based on who is viewing this cemetery. Just a few more thoughts, Roger O. Brick, D.C. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jorge Awapara" <jawapara@ruf.rice.edu> To: <MOGRUNDY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 2:20 PM Subject: [MOGRUNDY-L] Old City Cemetery | To: Roger Brick, | | Well, you put up a good case. HOWEVER, if they intend to leave the | cemetery in three foot high grasses (prairie or otherwise), wouldn't it be | nice to mow it or burn it off, as you do with your adopted cemetery, for | summer visitors? Couldn't the City at least do that much? The early | settlers who are buried there were all contributors to this city as well | as the county. Some day, the city MIGHT like to know who they were. I | still think there is a lot of excuse in that ..."letting it go to it's | natural state". Perhaps the City has no responsibility to maintain | commercial cemeteries, but then, why is this called The Old City Cemetery? | If it truly was a "City Cemetery", I think they do have some | responsibility. | | | To: Jack Wilford, | | Thanks for the addresses. I shall at least write a letter to the Mayor. | Maybe others will join me. | | Harriet Murphy Awapara | |