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Archiver > INPCRP > 2001-09 > 0999615773


From: Geography Department <>
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Barren's Cemetery (a/k/a St. John's Lutheran Cemetery), Franklin Twp., Harrison Co., IN
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 10:04:54 -0500
References: <03ea01c13488$13cec880$74390618@jfrvil1.in.home.com>


I think maybe the people who put up the sign about letting the site revert to its
natural state are confusing pioneer cemeteries with prairie cemeteries. Most
prairie cemeteries are covered with grass and wildflowers that need fire to keep
them clean. Many wildflowers evolved to need fire in order to sprout and grow.
This was not a problem during pioneer days and before when fire was a frequent
occurrence across the grasslands (started by lightning). Just as people discovered
when Yellowstone burned several years ago, fire keeps things under control and
healthy. If you let vegetation grow up too much, then the fire becomes too intense
and destroys everything in its path. Now, with development, people don't want fire
anywhere near their houses but the DNR does conduct controlled burns on areas
designated as PRAIRIE cemeteries, as well as in other areas of the state that
require fire to keep them pristine and healthy.

Please don't think I am condoning this behavior of letting the area become
overgrown. In fact, if they want to let the site revert to its natural state, they
should move out of there and let nature take its course with fire.
Joyce Haibe

Lois Mauk wrote:

> Larry Stuart
> >Email:
> has contacted Bill Spurlock of www.savinggraves.com with an Endangered
> Cemetery report concerning Barren's Cemetery (a/k/a St. John's Lutheran
> Cemetery), Franklin Twp., Harrison Co., IN.
>
> Mr. Stuart's concern is that the site is being intentionally allowed to
> revert to its "natural" state. In the process, the cemetery is in jeopardy
> of being lost altogether.
>
> >This cemetery has a sign which indicates it has been allowed to
> >return to its "natural" state of grasses and overgrowth as a
> >memorial to the pioneers, early settlers and native Americans who
> >settled the area. It is completely overgrown, making it almost
> >impossible to locate the gravesites and headstones within. It is
> >approximately 3/4 acre of deliberately unmaintained burial grounds.
> >If action is not taken to reverse this intentional neglect, the
> >gravesites will be completely overgrown and lost.
>
> I remember running into a situation similar to this a couple of years ago,
> but I can't find it in my archives. Any of you have any thoughts on this?
>
> The entire communication is reprinted below.
>
> Lois
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: William Spurlock
> To: Mauk, Lois
> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 10:30 AM
> Subject: Fwd: ENDANGERED CEMETERY REPORT - NEW
>
> Hi Lois,
> New Indiana cemetery report that just came in.
> Best Regards,
>
> William Spurlock
>
> http://www.savinggraves.com
> 09/03/2001
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> Sent: 01 Sep 2001 04:06:20 -0000
> Subject: ENDANGERED CEMETERY REPORT - NEW
>
> >Cemetery: Barren's Cemetery
> >Other: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
> >Sign: Yes
> >Street: Cemetery Road
> >City: just north of New Salisbury
> >Township: Franklin
> >County: Harrison
> >State: IN
> >Nation: USA
> >Zip:
> >Status: Abandoned
> >Size: Small
> >Directions: North of New Salisbury on S.R. 135, perhaps 2-3 miles,
> >east on Cemetery Rd. less than 1 mi., on south (right) side of road
> >Type: Road-public
> >Location: Rural-mixed
> >Terrain: Level
> >Watersource: No
> >Features: south side bordered by trees/woods
> >Land_Type: Public
> >Access: Open
> >Enclosure: Natural
> >Gate: None
> >Established: after 1847
> >Gravestones: 40-50
> >Oldest: 1854
> >Newest: 1916
> >Removed: Unknown
> >Relocated: No
> >Repairs: No
> >Methods:
> >Restoration: Unsure
> >Association: Unsure
> >Records: Unsure
> >Inventory: Unsure
> >Records_location:
> >Landscaping:
> >Plantings:
> >Paths:
> >Trees:
> >Crypts:
> >Fencing:
> >Walkways:
> >Brickwork:
> >Ironwork:
> >Sculpture:
> >Fountains:
> >Roads:
> >Buildings:
> >Cement:
> >Granite:
> >Marble:
> >Metal:
> >Stone: Markers_Stone
> >Slate:
> >Wood:
> >Architectural:
> >Angels:
> >Draperies: Carvings_Draperies
> >Fraternal:
> >Hands: Carvings_Hands
> >Lambs: Carvings_Lambs
> >Monograms:
> >Plant:
> >Photos:
> >Religious: Carvings_Religious
> >Scrollwork: Carvings_Scrollwork
> >Urns:
> >Other2:
> >Condition: Cemetery neglected
> >Unmarked: Yes
> >Broken: Yes
> >Toppled: Yes
> >Disintegrating: Yes
> >Buried: Unsure
> >Weather_problems: Unknown
> >Pollution_problems: No
> >Vandalized: No
> >Police_report:
> >VA1:
> >VA2:
> >VA3:
> >VA4:
> >VA5:
> >Overgrowth:
> >Overgrowth1: Problem-Access
> >Overgrowth2: Graves-Disturbing
> >Overgrowth3: Gravestones-Disturbing
> >Overgrowth4: Gravestones-Damaging
> >Vegetation1:
> >Vegetation2: Ground-Cover
> >Vegetation3:
> >Vegetation4:
> >Drainage:
> >Problem1:
> >Problem2: Apathy
> >Owner: Cemetery
> >Use:
> >Bordering: Agricultural
> >Change: Same
> >Reason:
> >Visited: Rarely
> >Archeology: Unknown
> >Habitat: Unknown
> >Contacted:
> >name: Larry Stuart
> >Email:
> >Date: 8/31/01
> >B1: Submit
> >Remote User:
> >Date: Saturday, September 01, 2001
> > Needs
> >
> >This cemetery has a sign which indicates it has been allowed to
> >return to its "natural" state of grasses and overgrowth as a
> >memorial to the pioneers, early settlers and native Americans who
> >settled the area. It is completely overgrown, making it almost
> >impossible to locate the gravesites and headstones within. It is
> >approximately 3/4 acre of deliberately unmaintained burial grounds.
> >If action is not taken to reverse this intentional neglect, the
> >gravesites will be completely overgrown and lost. Other_Information
> >
> >At least 20 known ancestors of our family are buried in this
> >cemetery. We have only recently become aware of its existence.
> >Many of the headstones are still in good condition, although some
> >are broken and disintegrating. We fear their continued
> >deterioration and loss if the overgrowth is allowed to continue.
> >Support
> >
> >
>
> ==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
> If you know of some good cemetery related links, send them to .

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