There are two cemeteries on the property of the Pebblecreek subdivision. One cemetery is a black cemetery and the other is white. These were both shown on the plats before the owners sold the property to the developer. There were several articles in the Herald Progress Newspaper documenting this. The date of the last interment was 1970 exactly..and the burial was for Emma Green, who was the LAST descendent of the black's in the original slaves' cemetery, which was adjacent to the Sydnor Family Cemetery...the white one. It was part of the Sydnor Plantation at one time. There are graves in there from as far back as the early 1800's. There is even one boy buried there when he was 13 years old named Thomas Sydnor. (Unknown COD). This information came from Ethel Eaton at the State Archeological Dept. During a series of events, the developer paid a mortician to search the property. Approx. 2 years ago a representative from Pebblecreek contacted both my husband and myself to get information on how to identify a gravesite. It was at that time we put them in contact with a former Coast Guardsman who does thermal imaging photography (flies over the area & the photography shows the size of gravesites, number of graves, etc) Why was this never done? From what I have now been told one developer had the gravesites "removed" from the deed of property because the mortician "walked" the property over & despite seeing markers and despite several genealogists' information, he stated that "he saw nothing visible that to him, determined for certain, any graves existed". I would urge each of you to contact the Hanover Planning Commission and the Hanover County Board of Supervisors about this. This is the fourth cemetery in two years (that I know of) that has been disturbed in the name of "progress". There are now health issues to be concerned about because of the age of these graves and the way they are currently being handled. None of this was looked in to. The bodies are NOT being removed by archealogists. And despite what they have "reported" on television...it is NO way legal to remove a gravesite from the plat only because someone who is not trained or experienced does not see a grave while walking on it. Members of the workcrew stated yesterday that some of these graves were so close to the surface small children could have come across the bones themselves. Residents in the area knew the graves were there & wanted them left alone. Pebblecreek, the builders, the county Planning Commission, etc., yet again, did NOT do their homework. In less than 24 hours we were able to find out about health hazards that this community has now been exposed to, the identities of some of the graves, and the Paul Harvey "rest of the story". You can contact the Hanover County Planning Commission at: Michael Crescenzo, Director of Planning [email protected] John Bender, Deputy Director Development [email protected] David Maloney, Deputy Director [email protected] Bill Johnson, Zoning Administrator [email protected] Lee Garman, Senior Planner [email protected] Hanover County Board of Supervisors-- John E. Gordon, Jr. Chairman [email protected] Aubrey M. Stanley, Jr., Vice-Chairman [email protected] Timothy E. Ernst [email protected] Thomas F. Giles, Jr [email protected] Charles D. McGhee [email protected] Elton J. Wade, Sr [email protected] J.T. "Jack" Ward [email protected] http://www.co.hanover.va.us/default.htm Hanover County Govern.website Look at the public's outlook on what has just transpired at the crematory in GA. This mis-treatment to the deceased has GOT to stop! Sheri Millikin Hanover, VA ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 10:25 PM Subject: [VAHANOVE] Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves > F.Y.I. - > The total body count of remains removed was over 130 by early this evening. > Sheri Millikin > > Excavation startles residents > Hanover subdivision site of 111 graves > http://www.timesdispatch.com/vametro/MGBO48955YC.html > BY BOB PIAZZA > TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 26, 2002