Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Thanking the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution for Their Support of Save Shannon Cemetery in Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio

Thanking the Ohio Society of Sons of the American Revolution for their public support of the Save Shannon Cemetery organization. This dedicated group of descendants and other concerned citizens have been tirelessly trying to get reversed what has already been done, and the plans proposed, by the officials of the Village of Bluffton who have allowed the removal of gravestones from their original gravesites at the Shannon Cemetery in Bluffton to be returned to those original gravesites. 

This post is a companion to the one posted earlier today that details the plans put forth by the Save Shannon Cemetery organization, which is independent of the city of Bluffton, (Bluffton has formed their own cemetery group excluding any  Save Shannon Cemetery members.) 

The members of Save Shannon Cemetery do not want Shannon Cemetery to be turned into a park where gravestones would be put in concrete and made into a display apart from the cemetery area itself -- forever leaving the gravesites without the gravestones that were removed from them.    


Sharing The Plan as Put Forth By the "Save Shannon Cemetery" Group -- Shannon Cemetery, Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio


"Our Plan and Links to all news articles and blogs written on the Shannon Cemetery Park Project in chronological order. If you are new to our cause please take a look it's all there in black and white. Please help us Save Shannon Cemetery!"

*This list will be updated as new things are published.

“FRIENDS OF SHANNON CEMETERY”
THE SAVE SHANNON CEMETERY PLAN

I. OUR GOAL
To Preserve, Restore and Memorialize Shannon Cemetery. Return and restore the removed gravestones
to their grave sites. Have a full Ground Penetrating Radar Scan performed in an attempt to locate graves.
To preserve and restore stones where no grave site is known and put them in a memorial area. To work
with a cemetery conservationist so that work is done in the proper manner. Continuing the research of
cemetery history, burial history, family history. Continued contact of families of those buried here,
so they may visit here. To work with any group or individual(s) and be willing to compromise our
efforts to obtain our goal to return this property at the entrance of downtown Bluffton, Ohio back to its
intended use, a Cemetery, an Ohio historic pioneer cemetery.

II. PRESERVE
A. That the development and renovation of the property known as Shannon Cemetery be stopped
under the present plan known as Shannon Cemetery Park. That this plan established under,
Village of Bluffton Resolution No. 07-13, is modified, per Section 2 of said resolution. And that
any and all modifications are done per Section 1, in a manner to memorialize those buried there
in a respectful manner. That the name of the plan known at Shannon Cemetery Park be changed,
to what Resolution No. 07-13 refers to, Shannon Cemetery. The property known as Shannon Cemetery
shall be protected, maintained and preserved for what it was meant to be and what it has always been,
a cemetery; an Ohio historic pioneer cemetery.

B. That a sample G.P.R. (ground penetrating radar) scan be performed on the Shannon Cemetery
property, as surveyed and or originally platted, in an attempt to locate all unmarked and unknown
graves. Pending positive results of this sample scan in locating grave(s), a full G.P.R. scan will be
recommended to be done.

C. That all known graves be marked, both with or without gravestone in a manner to memorialize
those buried there.

D. That all know gravestones be cataloged and individually photographed prior to any move, under
the instructions and or directions from a Cemetery Conservationist.

E. Research will be done on both the cemetery and those that are buried there, both known and
unknown. In an attempt to identify those interred at Shannon Cemetery.

F. Attempt will be made to identify each row and plot (lot) number located at Shannon Cemetery.

G. Members of the Save Shannon Cemetery group shall be appointed as members to the Shannon
Cemetery Commission.

H. That we all and foremost realize and respect that this property we wish to protect and preserve is
a cemetery of the founding fathers of Shannon, Ohio; which one day became Bluffton. An historic
cemetery in Bluffton, Ohio.

III. RESTORE

A. Restoration workers before restoring gravestones agree to take a class conducted by a cemetery
Conservationist. To be trained in the proper methods and products to use in restoration efforts.

B. That all restoration efforts be under the advice, direction and guidance of a professional cemetery
conservationist.

C. Restoration will be done in a professional and respectful manner.

D. All gravesites. Rows, plots (lots) will be ground marked and charted to a master chart for future
location and identification.

E. Stones will be reset onto their original gravesite, if located, in a respective manner which is
prescribed by a professional cemetery conservationist.

F. Gravestones which are restored and their original gravesite can’t be located will be placed at a
permanent memorial site in Shannon Cemetery where no graves are known to exist.

G. When a gravestone from the memorial site has been identified to belong on a specific grave
it will be removed from the memorial site and placed upon the specified grave.

H. Any partial gravestone will also be preserved; no partial stone will be discarded and or destroyed.

I. Partial gravestones and or pieces shall also be displayed at the said memorial site respectfully.

J. All restoration efforts and work performed on the Village of Bluffton property known as Shannon
Cemetery will be performed in a safe and respectful manner.

IV. MEMORIALIZE

A. Every attempt will be made to relocate each and every stone on their respective grave site.

B. An application should be applied for to have Shannon Cemetery an Ohio Historical Society
site and marked with an historical marker. With local historians writing what should be said
of both the town of Shannon and those buried here.

C. A memorial plaque with names of those buried here both known and unknown could be erected.
This plaque could include the row and plot (lot) number if known. Memorial should only memorialize
those interred here; not any village, business, organization or public participant in this endeavor.

D. Any veteran with no gravestone on their grave should have a government stone applied for.

E. A flag pole would be very appropriate on the cemetery grounds, but not over any grave(s).

F. While parking may be nice it has not been an issue in the past, would be an added expense and
would have to be maintained; if built it must and can’t be built over any known or unknown.
grave area.

G. Walking trails, rain gardens, gazebo, service club wall are not needed and detract on how we
feel that Shannon Cemetery should be memorialized, after all this is a Cemetery.
Remembering to preserve, restore, and memorialize Shannon Cemetery in a respectful manner.

http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/mayor-announces-shannon-cemet…
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https://www.change.org/p/bluffton-village-council-bluffton-…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/stick-richard-boehr
http://www.blufftonnews.com/cemetery-alley-vacations-still-…
http://thecourier.com/…/residents-criticize-cemetery-proje…/
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/letter-richard-boehrs-project…
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http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/bluffton-council-meeting-more…
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http://www.jenealogy.biz/…/local-volunteers-make-headway-a…/
http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/save-shannon-cemetery-fac…
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http://thecourier.com/…/bluffton-cemetery-restoration-proj…/
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/various-opinions-aired-concer…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/shannon-cemetery-mondays-coun…
http://limaohio.com/…/Now-that-concerns-answered-why-not-vo…
http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/shannon-cemetery-in-bluff…
http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/shannon-cemetery-plans-de…
http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/save-shannon-cemetery-on-…
http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/shannon-cemetery-bluffton…
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tp://m.limaohio.com/…/home_to…/153664383/A-state-of-unrest
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http://limesstones.blogspot.com/…/shannon-cemetery-bluffton…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/tree-plantings-highlight-arbor-…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/village-council-looks-fill-vaca…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/saturdays-arbor-day-celebrati…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/sr.citizen-newsletter-12528.p…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/support-shannon-cemetery-proj…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/shannon-cemetery-project
http://www.blufftonicon.com/feature/201406/honoring-our-past
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/council-packet-5-4-15-15066.p…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/council-packet-4-20-15-14945.…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/dick-boehrs-vision-shannon-ce…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/council-packet-9-23-13-9632.p…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/monday-september-9-2013-bluffto…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/monday-august-26-2013-bluffton-…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/monday-august-12-2013-bluffton-…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/richard-boehr-updates-senior-…
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http://www.blufftonnews.com/monday-february-25-2013-bluffto…
http://www.bluffton-ohio.com/index.php…
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http://www.blufftonnews.com/old-shannon-cemetery-be-revital…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/uncovering-blufftons-past-one…
http://www.blufftonicon.com/…/local-group-interested-making…
http://www.blufftonnews.com/local-man-waits-bring-life-hist…
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=noS-6Ouz5-A
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=43378