The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2001 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. - Milwaukee Cemetery To Be Desecrated This week I received an e-mail from Evelyn Oliveras that expressed concerns about the plans of the Milwaukee County (Wisconsin) Board of Supervisors. They reportedly plan to dig up all the graves at the Milwaukee County Poor Farm cemetery, place all the remains in one box and then bury those remains someplace else. The Milwaukee County Poor Farm began operation in November of 1852 with 24 people housed in a remodeled farmhouse. It remained in operation until the early twentieth century with additional buildings and a hospital constructed as the indigent population grew. You can find more information about the Poor Farm at "Jen's Photo Scrapbook Of the Milwaukee County Poorhouse" at: http://www.poorhousestory.com/WISC_PhotoScrapbook.htm Here is the message from Evelyn Oliveras: I need the help of each one of you who feels as strongly as I do about cemetery desecration. We have a county cemetery called Potter's field or sometimes referred to as Milwaukee County Poor Farm which is about to be desecrated by the county Board of Supervisors. They say they will dig up all the remains, place them in one box and move them to another location. These poor people were already buried on top of each other originally, and the whole thing is very sad to those of us who care. I am in the process of transcribing the burial registers to post on the web, but it is a long difficult process with different handwriting, etc. I have a full time job and family as well, but I devote what time I can to it. The County says that they've had no objections from the public and I say it is because no one really knows about it. I didn't even know about the open forum they had to discuss this and other issues until after it was over. They plan to make their move within a month, so I am beginning to panic. What I do need is for as many of you as will to email or snail mail them and let them know that the eyes of the rest of the world are on them. I have protested this type of behavior in all different countries as well as all over the U.S. and I know those emails counted. A friend in Finland has protested at every opportunity, and it's wonderful to let them know genealogy has united us all in an effort to preserve our heritage, our country and our ancestors. And these people are someone's ancestors. Milwaukee was an important Great Lakes Port and many people entered through here from all over. Many of the names are German, but when you have 7-10 thousand names, you've covered most every nationality. Please help us by letting the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors know how we collectively feel about this. I have faith that our group can move mountains. Please help us push. Mr. Tom Ament is the gentleman who appears to be in charge of this cemetery project and Karen Ordinans is the Director of the Board. You can see her Web page at: http://www.co.milwaukee.wi.us/ordinans.htm. I did a bit of checking on Evelyn's information. At the bottom of the Web page that she mentioned, you will find a link to send e- mail to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. The e-mail address is: county@www.co.milwaukee.wi.us If you share Evelyn Oliveras' concerns, please write to Karen Ordinans, Director of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors at county@www.co.milwaukee.wi.us. You can contact Evelyn Oliveras at: missev1017@aol.com I would also suggest that you write to the following news organizations, some of which may have an interest: Martin Kaiser, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal newspaper: mkaiser@onwis.com Patrick Stiegman, vice president and editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, Online Edition: stiegman@jsonline.com News Department Metro Desk of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal newspaper: jsmetro@onwis.com Editor of the Shepard Express Metro, a weekly newspaper in Milwaukee: editor@shepherd-express.com Editor of The Business Journal, a weekly business newspaper in Milwaukee: milwaukee@bizjournals.com Jeff Kiernan of WTMJ News (Channel 4 in Milwaukee): kiernan@touchtmj4.com Kent Wainscott of WISN News (Channel 12 in Milwaukee): kwainscott@TheMilwaukeeChannel.com. News Department at WDJT-TV (Channel 58 in Milwaukee): feedback@cbs58.com