WOW FOLKS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ! i HAVE 22 KNOWN BURIALS IN FRANKLIN CO., PA. AND ACCORDING TO THIS MANY OF THEM ARE SUBJECT COW PODS, SOY BEANS OR WHATEVER THE NEAR BY FARMER DECIDES HE WANTS TO DO. UNFORTUNETLY I LIVE IN THE PROGRESSIVE STATE OF MARYLAND WHERE CEMETERIES ARE PROTECTED BY LAW, SO I HAVE NO STANDING IN THAT LAWLWSS STATE. GORDON CROOKS ----- Original Message ----- From: Shaffer, Mark (PHMC) To: 'Gary Rea' Cc: gordoncrooks@verizon.net Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 11:52 AM Subject: RE: Slate Hill Seceeder Cemetery Gary - We appreciate your concerns with this situation. Unfortunately, cemetery laws in Pennsylvania are not very comprehensive at all, and we are not aware of any law that forbids the planting of crops in a cemetery, particularly if the cemetery is located on a piece of privately owned property. One matter we suggest you look further into is determining who owns the cemetery. If there is an existing congregation affiliated with this cemetery, we would suggest that the congregation contact the farmer with its concerns. Our agency's website has some information concerning cemeteries in Pennsylvania, including both state and federal laws, but when you review this information, you will find out what a "gray" area this is in terms of the law, particularly, the state law. To access this information, go to www.phmc.state.pa.us Once at the website, click on the heading "Historic Preservation" from the column at the left of the screen. Then scroll down to the heading "Initiatives," and click on the sub-heading "Cemetery Recordation and Preservation." Unless there is a federal agency undertaking which is subject to review under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, or unless a municipality is proposing to use the cemetery for some other purpose under the provisions of the Historic Burial Places Act of 1994, then the existing burial laws and regulations may not be applicable to this particular situation. This is unfortunate, and your friend in Franklin County may wish to consider contacting his local state legislators with his concerns and the suggestion that this is a topic which the state legislature should address through more comprehensive legislation. Mark Shaffer Historic Preservation Specialist Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office -----Original Message----- From: Gary Rea [mailto:garyrea56@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 9:18 PM To: Shaffer, Mark (PHMC) Cc: gordoncrooks@verizon.net Subject: Slate Hill Seceeder Cemetery Mark: Although I don't live in Pennsylvania, my ancestors did and I have been informed there is a farmer living in proximity to Slate Hill Seceeder Cemetery who has repeatedly violated the law by planting crops in this cemetery. A friend of mine, Gordon Crooks, who lives in Franklin County, alerted me to this. Although my ancestors were not buried in this particular cemetery, I still feel incensed that this is going on and has not been stopped. I certainly wouldn't want anyone doing this to my ancestor's remains and I can imagine how those with ancestors in Slate Hill Seceeder Cemetery must feel about it. I was told I should write to you to bring this to your attention so that appropriate measures can be taken. Thank you for your time. Gary Rea Seattle, Washington