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From: Derick Hartshorn <>
Subject: [NCCLEVEL] Help us preserve a historic site
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:59:58 -0400


Dear Friends,

I am certain that all genealogists and historians will stand together
when it comes to protecting and preserving culturally significant
sites. With development taking place even in rural areas, many
private cemeteries are not only being neglected but are being quietly
destroyed. In some cases, bulldozers are plowing under cemeteries. In
others, cattle are being allowed to destroy grave markers dating from
the 1700's and 1800's. One such case is the Gilleland family cemetery
in Sherrills Ford. The current property owner has refused to allow
the family to preserve this sacred plot, allowing cows to destroy the
existing stones at will.

The only reminder of Thomas Gilleland, a Catawba Valley pioneer born
in 1764, may soon be but a faint memory. His grave stone is being
trod upon every day by uncaring cattle. Jeffrey Thomas, a descendant
of the pioneer, has tried without success to gain access to the
cemetery of his ancestors for the purpose of protection and restoration.

In spite of the North Carolina General Statutes which provide for
cemetery protection, these laws have been ignored in the past and
will continue to be ignored in the future unless concerned citizens
make their voice heard.

I am asking all friends of our cultural past to join us and make
their voices heard. Mr. Thomas has a web site describing the
conditions of the cemetery. He has placed a petition on his Internet
web site, seeking the signatures of those who would support his
efforts. He only wants the right to enclose this sacred ground; to
restore the grave stones and to be allowed unfettered access to this
site--and all at his expense. Please visit the cemetery web site at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nccatawb/Gilleland-cemetery.htm and print
the petition, sign it and sent it to the address on the bottom.

Respectfully,

Derick S. Hartshorn
Conover, NC



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