Ohio Historic Inventory Finalized for Sheep Pen Cemetery - Madison Township, Highland County, Ohio

Sharing the completed forms for the Ohio Historic Inventory submitted to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection (Formerly the Ohio Historical Society)  for Sheep Pen Cemetery (also known as the Gustin Cemetery or Limes Cemetery) located in Madison Township, Highland County, Ohio. 

**** Sheep Pen Cemetery's OHI number is:  HIG0031202****
These papers are on file at the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and will be retained in their records for reference. 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I personally feel that these Ohio History Inventories serve as a valuable tool for identifying, in particular, Ohio's inactive cemeteries which are not registered with the State of Ohio. 

These "OHI's" provide state level documentation for recognizing a cemetery's existence substantiated through the information provided in writing and documented by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office on the form pages that show its location, ownership, and any important historical notations about the cemetery such as affiliation with a church (either past or present), and veterans or notable persons interred in it. 

There is so much history to be learned from cemeteries and the gravesites and gravestones that are found in them; whether the cemetery is large or small, city or rural, each one has its unique characteristics that make it special and worth preserving.

Click HERE for more information about the Ohio Historic Inventory.  

To obtain a PDF of the fillable form for individual OHI's, contact:

Susan Tietz | National Register and Inventory Manager, State Historic Preservation Office

Ohio History Connection 

800 E. 17th Ave.

Columbus, OH 43211

p. 614.298.2000 | f. 614.298.2037 | stietz@ohiohistory.org

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Statement from Susan Tietz:

"The purpose of the creation of an OHI form for a historic resource is simply to document the resource’s existence, it’s location, physical appearance and condition. It is a record of the property and does not convey any particular designation. The more information we have collectively about Ohio’s historic resources, the more we can understand the history of the state. As for protection, documentation on an OHI is the first step—it documents the location and existence of the cemetery. For the most part, raising public awareness about historic cemeteries has been the most effective protection.  The Ohio Historic Inventory is used by the State Historic Preservation Office staff, by various state, local, and federal agencies, and by the general public for making land-use planning, urban development, and road-improvement decisions.

In addition, the inventory serves as an official archive and body of information for researchers and property owners, alike."

Ohio WPA Cemetery Plat Maps -- Where Are They Now?

The Works Progress Administration (later renamed in 1939 as the "Works Projects Administration") -- is often abbreviated and known simply as the "WPA" -- was created and existed during the years of the Great Depression to help put Americans back to work.  

"Interment.net" provides a comprehensive historical account of the  Works Progress Administration; its purpose, timeline, and list of accomplishments that gives the researcher a good start in understanding the types of records we have today because of these programs.  

A critical element to be aware of that impacts a search for Ohio's WPA Cemetery Plat Maps is that after they were drawn and completed, the maps were then deposited at each Ohio County Recorder's Office for their individual county.  Over the decades, unfortunately, due to space constraints and other issues, these maps in many Ohio counties now are kept elsewhere; so the question is:  "Where are They Now?" 

The WPA Cemetery Plat Map pages are larger size and were bound in heavy volumes making them difficult to handle and store.  In Allen County, for example, there are over 100 pages of WPA Cemetery plat maps.  There could be two or even three cemetery maps on one page if the cemeteries are small.  Conversely, for larger cemeteries, several map pages would be required to be drawn to illustrate the sections of the cemetery.  Also, the names of the veterans buried at a cemetery were included on the map page. A key was included on the map page that explains the number code by the veteran's name to identify his burial location at the cemetery and the name of the war he served in, if known.     

So it is that I have been working since July of 2013 to locate the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps for each Ohio County.  As most of us know Ohio has 88 counties so it required contacting each county individually; and in some counties, calling and/or emailing several county government offices (i.e. - Recorder, Engineer, Tax Map, Veterans' Office, County Archives if there is one) and/or libraries, historical, and genealogical societies, before it is discovered where a county's WPA Cemetery Plat Maps are now located.  

Unfortunately, however, in thirteen counties (see listing below) the location where their WPA Cemetery Plat Maps are located today still remains a mystery even after exhausting all of the logical contact choices mentioned above.  It doesn't necessarily mean the cemetery maps don't exist; it just means I haven't found them yet! 

During my investigations, I learned also that there is no one repository that holds all of the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps for each of Ohio's Counties. For example, Ohio Historical Society just recently acquired the Franklin County WPA Cemetery Plat Maps.     

*****

On a related issue,  many of you may know, as a companion to the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps, the Veterans' Graves Registration Cards were created for individual veterans.  Today, these individual veteran's grave cards can still be foundat most Ohio Recorder's Offices and/or county veterans' offices.  

The Ohio Historical Society does have the veterans graves registration cards in their collection.  A wonderful website for these graves registration cards is in its beginning stages to be online accessible through the Ohio Memory Project.  Click here to access  their "Graves Registration Cards" collection.  A paragraph entitled:  "About this Collection" also explains Ohio-specific details.   Currently, this online collection is only up to the letter "B", however.  

"The Graves Registration Cards Collection is made up of digitized versions of the graves registration cards from State Archives Series 183 at the Ohio Historical Society. This series, created by the Ohio Adjutant General's Department, includes records of soldiers in every war from the Revolutionary War until World War II."   

Below is a sample veteran's grave registration card for Samuel Crooks who was buried at the Limes Cemetery AKA Sheep Pen or Gustin Cemetery: 

*****

Please note, the alphabetical listing by county of the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps and contact information regarding them, if known, for their current location, is now shown on this blog on its own Page entitled:  

"Ohio WPA Cemetery Plat Maps - Location of Maps Listed Alphabetically by County Name".  

The PAGES heading is on the blog's right-hand column.  

*****

The counties where the location of their WPA Cemetery Plat Maps remain missing are listed below:

ADAMS COUNTY OHIO

CARROLL COUNTY OHIO

GALLIA COUNTY OHIO

HIGHLAND COUNTY OHIO

JACKSON COUNTY OHIO 

MAHONING COUNTY OHIO

MEIGS COUNTY OHIO

MONTGOMERY COUNTY OHIO

NOBLE COUNTY OHIO

OTTAWA COUNTY OHIO

PREBLE COUNTY OHIO

PUTNAM COUNTY OHIO

SENECA COUNTY OHIO

*****

Below is the title page for the "Veterans Graves Registration" project.  Also, below the title page is the WPA Cemetery Plat Map page of the Auglaize Cemetery in Auglaize Township, Allen County, Ohio to help illustrate what a typical WPA Cemetery Plat Map page looks like.

"Cemeteries and the Family Historian" -- Ohio Historical Society - Saturday, May 11, 2013 -

(Click on the title to link to the enrollment page for this presentation.)

There is still time to register for Cemeteries and the Family Historian

"Cemeteries are thought of as very peaceful places. It is easy to go in, snap a couple of pictures, and leave. Like any other record, tombstones require evaluation; further, they can give clues when taken in context with the neighboring grave markers around them. Come find out how to collect biographical details that go beyond birth and death dates carved into stone."

Date: May 11, 2013

Time: 10 AM – 12 PM

Location: Ohio History Center

Register online here or call 614-297-2510.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!! A Focus on Ohio History Central Thanks to the Ohio Historical Society.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, I find myself reflecting on Ohio's unique history.  

Because we know without people there would be no human history, we also know to understand Ohio and the character of its early settlers, we must consider the landscape they encountered upon arrival in wagons and horseback even before its statehood in 1803.

Thus, to learn more about the hardships and changes our Ohio ancestors faced, we need to learn more about their environment in the territory that would become the 17th state.  This means understanding the geography of the lands and early county boundaries that changed as the years progressed.  

If you're thinking that I am including the value of  maps in this discussion, then your thinking is right on the mark.  

Whether you are a life-long Ohioan or someone who never stepped foot in the state, gaining a good grasp of Ohio and how it evolved into a state of 88 counties with over 1,000 townships will serve you well when studying your ancestors' contributions to their communities.  It will help you to know where the records of their achievements, associations, and even outlandish adventures can be found. 

May I suggest an on-line stop at Ohio History Central !!  There are several links here and clicking on the title will also take you to the main site.  

Maps galore and so much more await you on this website.  Be sure to use the "Search" feature in the upper left and the Index Tab to help you navigate your way through the maps and history of Ohio; home to your ancestors who chose to live and be buried in the Buckeye State.   

"Preserving Historic Cemeteries" from the Ohio Historical Society

A link to the "Preserving Historic Cemeteries" found on the website of the Ohio Historical Society is available on this post by clicking on the title, and a permanent link is located on the blog's right column.  

The depth and scope of this information is comprehensive and valuable whether you are someone who is new to cemetery preservation or have been participating in preserving cemeteries and gravesites for some time.  

The key to locating the final resting places of our ancestors rests (and no pun intended!!) with saving their gravesites in the first place, as we all know.  Too many burial sites have been lost already.  Since many folks did not have grave markers placed for them their names do not appear on any tombstone transcription lists.  

The next steps include contacting local cemetery sextons, funeral homes, or researching local church records and libraries or museums. Seeking published obituaries might also help us to discover where burials occurred.  

The Ohio Historical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, and The Association for Gravestone Studies are, in my opinion, the top three organizations that can help researchers who have an eye toward taking the all-important extra steps to preserve ancestral gravesites and monuments that mark their locations.