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."

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Update on the Status of Saving Shannon Cemetery in Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio


First, The "Shannon Cemetery Commission" of the Village of Bluffton Government IS NOT to be confused with "Save Shannon Cemetery Committee" which is an organized group of concerned descendants of those buried at the Shannon Cemetery, and others who also are working with them to ensure that the burial grounds be returned to its original condition as a recognizable cemetery with gravestones; including the return of purposely removed gravestones from their respective gravesites.  Please keep that in mind when reading the letter below.  

My assessment is that the Village of Bluffton is not itself committed to returning the Shannon Cemetery to being a cemetery -- with wording that purposely makes that "Concept Choice" appear to be the least attractive and listed as the last one on the four concept choices offered by the Village of Bluffton.  
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***Thus, I am appealing to those to whom this survey shown below is directed:

To:
 
• American Legion Post
• Bluffton Lions Club
• Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce members
• Bluffton Area Ministerial Association

Please consider your choices carefully when you mark them on the survey.  The results will reach beyond the Village of Bluffton in the State of Ohio as the final outcome can be cited as a precedent for deciding the future of cemeteries faced with similar situations as those of the Shannon Cemetery. 

Consider also how you would feel right now if one of your ancestors was buried at the Shannon Cemetery -- what choices do you think they would wish you to make on their behalf?:


 

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A partial view below of what the Shannon Cemetery looked like before remaining standing gravestones were removed.