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Archiver > TNMONROE > 1999-12 > 0944748808


From: "DELBERT GUSTIN" <>
Subject: Fw: [TNCOCKE] Fw: [TNMONROE-L] Help Save Hickory Log Missionary Bapti
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 09:13:28 -0500


In some states ther are law about encroachment on cemetery properties.
Check to see what are legal recourses in the State.

I encourge all to write State and local official to support preservation of
the cemetery
site.

Mary


> > 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

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