Roger, People in Fla must be more interested in their old cemeteries than in eastern NC. Not sure I was aware one could obtain Historic Status for a cemetery. Rather doubt state money would be available for this since the state takes the attitude that they really don't have the money to enforce the cemetery laws already on the books. The Historic Preservation Group intends to take on the cemetery issue but that is way down the pike. They are just getting going and the Civil War Battlefields are their top issue. The State does require a cemetery on private land be accessable to relatives and that is enforced by the Sheriff - PROVIDED one knows it is the law and sits real hard on the Sheriff. Some land owners have denied access recently which they can't do legally. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Martha 07:02 2001 >From: RAHart3@aol.com >Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 17:07:01 EST >Old-To: ncgreene-l@rootsweb.com >X-Mailer: AOL 7.0 for Windows US sub 118 > >Martha, >I have seen several letters recently about the deplorable condition of these >old cemeteries and the fact that they are soon to be lost entirely. > >In Florida we were recently successful in getting Historic status for the >Stewart Cemetery, supposedly the final resting place for Reuben Hart of North >Carolina. This effort was spearheaded by Jeanette Henderson of the Baker >Block Museum in Baker, Florida, and required about a year of work to get the >large application filled out and to get the local politicians on our side. >She had the fortitude to see it through and we were successful. > >While receiving Historic status does not guarantee anything, it does free up >some matching money for monuments and possibly headstone repair, but this >will differ from state to state. I think a couple of the advantages of the >designation is to keep access to the cemeteries open, even when they are on >private property. Getting the politicians on board is also a gift because >quite possibly they can provide some prisoner time for cleanup and repair of >the grounds. The very nature of completing the application will get some >interest aroused within the community and maybe get some volunteers to help >work the site. > >We are hopeful that we can use some of the matching funds to buy a monument >respecting the accomplishments of our cherished ancestor, Reuben Hart. > >Cordially, > >Roger Hart > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >