Michigan, Tennessee, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada - (See recent StoneMor)

Today's Cemetery Genealogy News
Michigan, Tennessee, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada- (See recent StoneMor)

StonMor acquires more cemeteries

I had no idea that there was this much money in cemetery ownership. $68 Million dollars worth!???!!! StoneMor recently bought several cemeteries in the following US States and Puerto Rico:Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Oregon, Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Washington, Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Florida, West Virginia. This aquisition does not include cemeteries that StonMor owned prior to this purchase. A recent visit to the StoneMor website did not reveal the cemetery locations or specific ownership, however, there was a search tool that may reveal more information. I did not find it helpful in finding specific cemeteries that StoneMor owns. Read this for more. In 2006 an article stated that StoneMor owned over 136 cemeteries primarily on the East Coast. "In 2006, these properties generated over $44 million in revenues, which is in excess of 35% of StoneMor's 2006 consolidated revenues, and this proposed acquisition, which is the largest since StoneMor went public, will bring the total number of properties owned or managed to 281, a 37% increase." and "In 2005, these locations produced annual cemetery revenues of approximately $9.9 million and annual funeral home revenues of approximately $6.1 million." From the StoneMor website, they now claim over 223 cemeteries and 57 funeral homes in 27 states and Puerto Rico.

Corrections - Park officials cut down tree in Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester

The previous article links and photographs were from the Pine Grove Cemetery in Hampton. The news story refers to the cemetery in Manchester. This is easily confused as Hampton sports the same cemetery name. The Hampton cemetery is quite older than the Manchester, Pine Grove Cemetery. The Manchester City Government website ( link may or may not be official city site.) has photos of Manchester's Pine Grove Cemetery online here. And actually, the Parks and Recreation and Cemetery dept. have email and contact information on the website which includes a customer satisfaction survey. The cemetery is not as old as the Hampton Pine Grove Cemetery, however, it does have burials of several former mayors and dates back to 1851. Find A Grave posts several famous politicians and former governor ( Cheney ) of New Hampshire buried here and more photos. This website links to another government link that indicates the following rules regarding Pine Grove Cemetery and other cemeteries in Manchester. I found the link and followed it to discover that a few rules were published regarding the cemeteries of the city . I did Notice the "...trees, shrubs...must not be disturbed." rule was posted on-line. I apologize to Hampton for the confusion. Manchester does have a nice website dedicated to genealogy. And in fact, there is also a blog entitled Cow Hampshire, dedicated to history, genealogy and humorous topics.

New Hampshire park officials raid historic cemetery for tree

This image is from the records of Lane Memorial Library - Pine Grove Cemetery.

Manchester, New Hampshire, Union Leader This is incredible that a cemetery created in 1654 could have the cities own parks dept. choose a tree from its grounds for the cities Christmas Tree! The parks employee was reprimanded, however, A Very Grave Matter also lists this cemetery in poor condition and posts this link from a local paper about Pine Grove Cemetery from 2003. The Hampton Historical Society provided a tour of the cemetery in 2003. At that time, the cemetery was said to be in good condition. The story also relates that an inventory of family names was taken by a Boy Scout, Joshua McDonald of Troop 177 in 1999. The library offers information about all of the New Hampshire cemeteries, including how to buy a booklet of the Pine Grove Cemetery. The website, A Very Grave Matter, also has a list of about 40 some odd photos of headstones. New Hampshire also has an Old Graveyard Association . I'm finding it hard to believe that this occured! Did I research the right cemetery? It is so incredible to believe that a park official would do such a thing, especially since the cemetery has been in and out of the internet news in the last few years.

MASSACHUSETTS, ILLINOIS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, WORLD WAR II

Today's Cemetery Genealogy News
MASSACHUSETTS, ILLINOIS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, WORLD WAR II

California, Indiana, Texas, Nebraska, Arizona, Guam, India

Today's Cemetery Genealogy News
From California, Indiana, Texas, Nebraska, Guam, and India

India

This is totally weird, just as the URL indicates. The New Lucky restaurant in India has been serving clients since 1950's . . . in a cemetery.

Central Georgia, Bibb County

A cemetery in Bibb county, Georgia is facing development. The cemetery happens to be over 125 years old and is being side stepped for a Wal Mart. A court hearing is scheduled in January 2008 to discuss the cemeteries. Evidently, this 125 year old cemetery is not the only cemetery in the bulldozers path on the property being developed. I don't know how many of these cemeteries have been transcribed at RootsWeb. Here is a link to the Georgia Bibb County RootsWeb site. From Rootsweb the origins of Bibb county.

Bibb County, Georgia was created in 1822 and named after William Wyatt Bibb
(1781-1820).  Bibb served as a member of the Georgia state house of representatives;
a Senator from Georgia; Governor of Alabama Territory; Governor of Alabama.
Bibb County, AL is also named for him.  The parent counties from which Bibb
County was organized from were Jones, Monroe, Twiggs and Houston.  U.S. Census
reports are available for this county from 1820 to 1930.  The county seat is Macon.

And so we go to Alabama and read at Rootsweb the history of Bibb county, Alabama.

On Feb 7, 1818, Cahawba County was created from Monroe County
by the Alabama Territorial legislature. The name was changed to Bibb
County on December 4, 1820 to honor the first governor of Alabama,
William Wyatt Bibb. In 1992, the population was 17,175 in a land area
of 625 square miles an average of 27.6 people per square mile. The county
seat is locate at Centreville.

Topica

This blog is about news articles from the following mailing list:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/cemeterygenealogynews/

New York and Texas Cemetery Preservation

Reflections and personal thoughts upon Shirley's article and the types of cemeteries found in cemetery research.

Types of cemeteries:


1. Church Cemeteries
2. Public Cemeteries
3. National (Arlington National Cemetery)
4. State
5. City
6. Township
7. Village
8. Private
9. Memorial Parks - private corporations protect these cemeteries, however, sometimes these organizations become corrupt, and the cemeteries fall into disrepair inspite of their affiliations.

I wonder what becomes of a cemetery affiliated with a church after the church is no longer operational? There is one such historical church in New York that began as a German Catholic congregation. Did this German Catholic church maintain a cemetery? If so is the cemetery maintained? If the local, state and National Heritage Register have recognized the church for its age and architecture, is the cemetery maintained as part of the registered site? Is it maintained even when the church is now being used for some other purpose?

St. Mary of Sorrows - Erie County, New York Preservation

This website states a clear purpose with additional bylaws and a page description of how to join their organization.

It also makes references to how to stop a demolition, including a link to petitions. Here are the search results for "cemetery" no quotes. http://www.PetitionOnline.com Search cemetery.

In Texas a cemetery has gained the attention of author, China Galland. Love Cemetery, Unburying the Secret History of Slaves. Love's decendants are having problems accessing the cemetery, even though Texas state laws are in place to grant access.

"Preservation experts say the problem is common for the state's ( Texas ) 50,000 cemeteries and burial grounds. Even though Texas law tells property owners to allow access to graves, it doesn't set penalties for violations." -- Dallas Morning News, Dec. 9, 2007