Hi list, My name is Greg Keeling. I'm V.P. of the Coffee Co. Historical Society, and was apparently lucky enough to be the first "non-contractor" to find the gravestones that have been the concern of many list readers. Since I am a list member, concerned party, and was in on this situation from the beginning, I was asked to relate a bit more about the whole thing. First, and most importantly, I am very glad to tell you first hand that this situation is *not* one of a graveyard nor of gravestones being abandoned or neglected, at least not in the usual sense. I found the stones several months back, apparently the same day the contractor did. The contractor stopped work immediately and had already reported the find and the Manchester City folks in charge of the work being done. It seems an old monument company once existed by the Duck River where some new work was being done improving Manchester's City Park; a Greenway was being built for walkers, bikers, hikers (etc.). The contractor found the stones as they began to bulldoze the brush and small trees near the river, clearing what would become the new Greenway. I knew the work was going on and decided the opportunity was too good to pass up; I was curious to see what "history" (arrowheads, any old artifacts, etc.) might have been uncovered by the dozing. As I walked the bulldozer's path, I began to find gravestones knocked over, pushed aside, and broken. A bit further along the dozer's path, I found a few standing and lying, apparently undisturbed for many years. This was *not* the artifacts and history I thought to find! As has been related in a previous message to this list (by Mr. James A. Jones), the gravestones turned out to be the "mistakes," broken stones, and old stones from where family members replaced loved ones' stones with new stones. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis (owners of this Coffee Co. list) have researched Coffee Co. and Cannon Co. cemeteries and have done much work in several surrounding county cemeteries, so they had the means at hand to investigate the names and dates we found on the gravestones. Over the course of the next couple days, the above explanation was proven to be the case: Mr. Lewis was able to locate new and correctly inscribed stones in local and nearby cemeteries, even though some turned out to be outside Coffee Co.! I hope this information serves to alleviate the concern so many have shown regarding this situation. I will follow-up by again getting in contact with the Manchester City Recreation Department and will make them aware of this continuing issue, the need to somehow permanently correct the situation, and of the concern it aroused among so many people. Neither local folks nor visitors to our lovely city and beautiful new park additions need be faced with what can be a very shocking and unexpected "discovery" while they are simply out for a walk by the river! Best regards, Greg Keeling