TNMONROE-L Archives

Archiver > TNMONROE > 1999-12 > 0944530692


From: "DELBERT GUSTIN" <>
Subject: Fw: [TNCOCKE] Fw: [TNMONROE-L] Help Save Hickory Log Missionary Bapti
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 20:38:12 -0500


> call or write your state and federal representatives. they will respond to
the
> pressure.
>

>
> > > 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:
> > > 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:
> > > Day: (732)532-3327
> > > Evening: (732)870-0579
> > >
> > > ------- End of forwarded message -------
> > > Katherine White-Duke
> > > http://www.dreamwater.com/wylchild/tree/wyltree.html
> > >
> >
> > ==== TNCOCKE Mailing List ====
> > Public hangings always drew huge numbers, and these came from the
> > adjoining counties and from North Carolina as well, probably supplying
> > the "thrills" that the movies do today. Stephen Griffee was hanged for
> > a crime he protested he did not commit. Dan Potter who helped in the
> > gruesome task, heard Stephen say he wished he knew he would have the
> > privilege of dying before "so great a throng of people."
> > Stephen got his wish Nov. 12, 1880, for a crowd estimated at ten
thousand
> > saw him hanged for the murder of Willis McMahan, one of the most ghastly
> > deeds in the annals of Cocke Co.
> > OTMBH's P. 226
>

This thread: