Hi List, I got this message from another list. Does anyone out there have any ideas for this person on how to save their historic landmark? If so, please reply to the e-mail address below. Katherine White-Duke From: dbj@monmouth.com Subject: Help Save Hickory Log Missionary Baptist Cemetery Hello List, Hickory Log Missionary Baptist Cemetery is located in a small Northen Georgia town called Canton. It was established 6 years after the end of slavery by my ancestors, other former slaves, and their descendants. Contrary to what's stated in the article, the oldest graves date back 150 years and are in danger of being relocated to make way for a shopping center. Any ideas or advise on saving Hickory Log Missionary Cemetery would be greatly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to forward or re-post this article, we hope to bring as much public attention to this as possible. Thanks, Dbj Bid to save cemetery gathering supporters BYLINE: D.L. Bennett, Staff DATE: 11-27-1999 PUBLICATION: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution EDITION: Home SECTION: Local News PAGE: H2 Preservationists are rallying to prevent the relocation of a Canton cemetery, but developers remain committed to moving the burial ground begun by former slaves. "I can't put a financial value on it, " said Judson Roberts, president of the Cherokee Historical Society. "But it is one of the oldest and largest African-American cemeteries in the county. It's a historical resource for the county." The Hickory Log Missionary Baptist Church's cemetery of more than 400 graves is on ground developer Mike Sasser plans to use for an expansion of Riverstone Plaza, a 600,000-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex. Sasser said the 127-year-old cemetery would be better off moved than left inside the boundaries of the 650-acre commercial development he's just getting off the ground. The unkempt cemetery sits high on a hill overlooking the first phase of Riverstone. Current grading plans call for slicing more than 60 feet from the hilltop. The plan would leave the one-acre cemetery standing out like a beacon. "If it were on grade, we'd do everything to work around it, " Sasser said. "I can't think of anything that works." The historical society has turned to Canton lawyer Doug Flint to clarify ownership of the land. So far, he hasn't found the deed. "We feel pretty strongly the anecdotal evidence and use of the property is enough to establish ownership," Flint said. "It's a sad situation when a cemetery stands in the way of 'progress.' " Sasser contends he bought the land and cemetery from the Jordan family, descendants of Philip Keith, who, church officials say, originally gave two acres for the church and cemetery in 1872. "We have title insurance on it," Sasser said. Church members, though, say they still own it even though no deed can be found. "Everybody's looking for that deed right now. It's like the Ark of the Covenant," Roberts said. The issue will probably be decided by the Canton City Council, which would have to approve Sasser's request to relocate the cemetery. He says he will file a request in about six months. Mayor Cecil Pruett said he'd prefer to see the community and developer come to an agreement, rather than leaving it to the council. "If they can't get together, then we will hold a public hearing and decide," Pruett said. "There are some things government just shouldn' t be involved in." The council already is being lobbied, Pruett said. Cherokee County commissioners joined those backing preservation Tuesday when they voted unanimously to send the City Council a letter asking it to block the proposed move. The commissioners admitted they had no authority in the matter. They just wanted to have their say. "It angers me that the development community can ride roughshod over all kinds of things," said Chairman Emily Lemcke. "They think they can play God. It's wrong. Where are our values as a community?" ILLUSTRATIONS/PHOTOS: Riverstone Plaza developers want to relocate the estimated 400 graves in the cemetery of Hickory Log Missionary Baptist Church. Map shows location of cemetery. Inlaid map shows cemetery in relation to Metro Atlanta. / Elizabeth Landt / Staff © Copyright 1999,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, All rights reserved. D.L. Bennett, Staff, Bid to save cemetery gathering supporters., 11-27-1999, pp H2. -- Daniel Byrd Jr. 85 Pleasure Bay Long Branch, NJ 07740 Email: dbj@monmouth.com Day: (732)532-3327 Evening: (732)870-0579 ------- End of forwarded message ------- Katherine White-Duke http://www.dreamwater.com/wylchild/tree/wyltree.html