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Archiver > TX-CEMETERIES > 2008-04 > 1209582449


From: "Diane Williams" <>
Subject: Re: [TX-CEMETERIES] issues in New Braunfels
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:09:32 -0400
References: <011d01c8aaed$2fc01e30$9bb55a42@DellOpti>
In-Reply-To: <011d01c8aaed$2fc01e30$9bb55a42@DellOpti>


We all know there is long history all over this country of municipalities
and state historic districts taking over cemeteries, even cemeteries on
"private land." So, all their talk is just bluster because they don't want
the responsibility an dont want to have to pay for upkeep.

Sooo, whenever I ask the cities or townships or whomever to take care of
abandoned or previously private cemeteries, I always try to go with a budget
supplement plan.

One GREAT idea is to ask a local landscaping service or nursery or even just
lawn cutting company(especially if there is either a new starter up company
or if there is a company seen as being there for generations) if they would
be willing to do some of the yard maintenance for free for a 6 month period.

And then ask if there is a pest control company who would be willing to
donate rodent control services three times a year for one year. (There is
nothing worse for a cemetery than groundhogs..dont even get me started on
that subject, and I do love the critters just not in grannys grave...)
Then, ask the local boy or girl scouts to do the photo transcriptions and
clean ups or even the "adopt a cemetery" project where three or four groups
come in a clean up one week per month for 6 months.

When asking for this kind of help, include the descendants of the
"residents" of the cemetery.
Invoke the memory and honor of our military forefathers who may be buried
there.
Invoke the memory of the individual grandparents of the volunteers:
landscaper, and the scoutmaster, and the others. Ask them if they would
appreciate it if their own familys gravesites were treated this poorly, left
abandoned and forgotten, and that with their business or their groups needs
in mind we can help each other. We can advertise their support (and when
they show up with the company trucks/vans it is a good thing.) And we can
let the volunteers and students and scouts know how proud we are of their
work with ribbons and an after party 6 months down the line.

The harder stuff includes:
Make sure you impress upon whomever you ask to help the need for
NON_damaging methods of maintenance. I had one volunteer company come in to
a particularly remote overgrown cemetery with a riding mower, and just
basically ride over stones and not pay any attention to fragile plots, etc.
Also obviously we know not to try to clean stones with abrasives or with
harsh chemicals.
And remember to photo everything before, during, and after.

There is a lot we can do, simply by asking others to help.

Good luck to all!!!!!

Diane


-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto:] On Behalf Of SarahReveley
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:08 PM
To: TX-CEMETERIES
Subject: [TX-CEMETERIES] issues in New Braunfels

Errrm the heated testimonial was me. I got so mad I went home. Actually
don't tell anybody but I knew I was going to cry, I was already past the red
splotches on my neck stage, and crusaders aren't supposed to cry.

Stacy Laird, Parks Director, gave her presentation and said she had
discussed the cemetery with the THC and the THC said they didn't know of any
city that was taking care of private graves, and that the THC recommended
the formation of a Friends of the Cemetery to assist in raising money and
locating descendants. She also said that there were no graves markers in
the mass grave. There was no mention of a Cemetery Commission in her
recommendations. She even denied the vandalism. It was as if she was more
concerned with covering her tracks than with treating our ancestors with
decency and respect.

I had an opportunity to speak, so I explained that I was representing the
descendants on the internet, and was the lady who went to the Parks meeting
in defense of the cemeteries a month ago, (all by my lonesome). Then I told
them about Stacey threatening to arrest me 2 years ago if I touched a
private grave, showed them photos of Emma Bush's grave marker in the mass
grave, showed them the big plan of their wrong layout for the cemetery, and
read the THC letter Gerron Hite wrote to Stacey. By then I was so angry and
frustrated I just said "You can't fight City Hall, and that includes New
Braunfels. You can have your cemetery, I'm going home." I picked up my
papers and left. I apologized to my great grandparents on the way home, they
both said "Kind, it's okay. We're with you."

I've been keeping my mailing list apprised of the events. Two dozen internet
descendants wrote the Council and that's what finally got them to take a
look at the cemeteries.

I missed the other testimonials when I blasted out of there and it looks
like the City Council listened.

Sarah


http://herald-zeitung.com/story.lasso?ewcd=96cb68b4ea355a78

Preserving cemeteries
By Chris Cobb
The Herald-Zeitung

Published April 29, 2008

After a number of heartfelt, and at times heated, testimonials from longtime

residents of New Braunfels, Mayor Bruce Boyer asked a simple question:

"Who are we if we don't care of our heritage?"

And it was with that in mind that the New Braunfels City Council started a
process Monday to preserve two of the city's most cherished landmarks, the
Comal and New Braunfels cemeteries. A growing number of citizens had
recently pushed for the city to begin taking better care of the two
historical
graveyards, both tracing their oldest plots back to the mid-nineteenth
century.
Complaints of damaged markers and generally run-down infrastructure had
brought the issue to the forefront, prompting a presentation to city council

Monday by Parks and Recreation Director Stacey Laird on the condition of
both cemeteries. Laird illustrated that while there were a number of areas
in which the cemeteries could be improved, plots are generally private
property and cities typically don't take on the responsibility of
maintaining them. [see letter below from THC]

In neighboring cities like San Marcos, a municipal cemetery commission or
non-profit "friends of the cemetery" group will often take on the
responsibility of maintaining run-down plots and evaluating pressing
cemetery needs. Monday, council advised the parks department to explore
setting up entities devoted to cemetery maintenance and preservation to
truly address the issue of cemetery care.

"These beautiful, historic cemeteries are worth preserving," said
Councilwoman Kathleen Krueger. "We have a lot of people very willing to step

up and take charge of these cemeteries, which are really amazingly
fascinating places of history."

City Manager Mike Morrison said city staff will explore whether it would be
best to set up a municipal cemetery commission as part of the parks and
recreation department, or just encourage the formation of a "friends of the
cemetery" group, or both. "I anticipate that the parks board appoint a
committee," Morrison said. "They'll work through all the various options
that are out there and come back with a recommendation as to what structure
should be put in place."

****

Letter from THC:

April 4th, 2008


Mayor Bruce Boyer
City of New Braunfels
424 South Castell Avenue New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Stacey Laird, Director
New Braunfels Parks and Recreation
110 Golf Course Road
New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Dear Mayor Boyer and Director Laird:

Ms. Sarah Reveley has asked the Texas Historical Commission (THC)
to address issues related to the preservation of the old New Braunfels
Cemetery. Ms. Reveley has stated several times in emails to the THC
that she believes the City of New Braunfels should be responsible for
maintaining the cemetery. She represented to us that the city has stated
that the individual grave markers are private property and therefore,
the city can not work on them.

One section she mentioned, Texas Health & Safety Code,
Section 713.002 (a), provides,"A municipality that owns or operates
a cemetery or has control of cemetery property may act as a
permanent trustee for the perpetual maintenance of the lots and graves
in the cemetery." It appears that the law was written to encourage
preservation of all the elements of the cemetery and provides the
opportunity for the municipality to care for the lots and graves within the
cemetery, including the grave markers. The language is permissive, not
mandatory (may rather than shall) but would allow the city to do what
Ms. Reveley requests. The THC certainly encourages all parties to
explore avenues that will result in the preservation of all elements
within the cemetery, including individual grave markers.

We would like to make a suggestion that has been offered before but
we still think needs to be explored. Setting up of a friends-of-the-cemetery

group would be a very good idea to work toward long term preservation
goals for the cemetery with the city and could assist in exploring avenues
to fund the restoration/conservation of all elements located in the
cemetery.

If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
at 512475-4167 or

Sincerely,
Gerron S. Hite, RA
Cemetery Preservation Coordinator

cc: Sara Reveley
Laura West, Chair, Comal County Historical Commission

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