Pebble Creek Cemetery Photos

Pebble Creek Cemeteries

Between February 13, 2002 and April 5th 2002, the remains of 215 graves were disinterred from lots 53 and 54 of section 2-D of the Pebble Creek Subdivision in Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia. It is suspected that there may be additional bodies on the property adjoining these two lots. The subdivision offers new homes from $130,000 to $300,000, with amenities such as streetlights, a clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts and natural gas utilities. For some reason they choose to not include the two historic cemeteries located on the property as a selling point....

NEW!!!!

We have just received word that the Hanover Memorial Park working with/under direction of Todd Rogers (PMG-One/Hometown Realty), has asked for assistance from certain individuals with the wording/inscription on a generic/anonymous monument to be placed at the Hanover Memorial Park Cemetery at the new location of the graves of those removed from Pebble Creek.
Now, the interesting things here are these...
1. How will they know what (sur)names to inscribe when they have not determined "officially" if those removed were from the Sydnor family cemetery or the slave/Green cemetery?
2. How will they know unless they remove the other cemetery (as required by the court order) and
do research on those remains?
3. How can they place a monument when not all remains have yet been removed as required by the court order.
4. Why hasn't Todd Rogers or Hanover Memorial Park made any contact with any family members or persons involved in this matter when they have contact information?

THE PEBBLE CREEK MESSAGE BOARD HAS MOVED

Read a brief overview of the history of this land and a copy of the original document which shows that 1 acre was set aside for use as a cemetery no latter than April 24,1866.
The October 9, 1918 deed transferring ownership of the property to Oscar Via
The February 6, 1995 deed transferring ownership of the property from Oscar Via to PMG-ONE, LLC
A current tax map from Hanover County showing the Pebble Creek Development
Read the Hanover County Circuit Court Order that started all this.
Read a letter to the residents of Pebble Creek from PMG-ONE, LLC. Please note that this letter was sent AFTER the digging started.
Read the Hanover County Board of Supervisors Update as of March 07, 2002
Read the March 14th Letter to Judge John R. Alderman
Hanover County Judge Alderman Replies to the March 14th Letter
Virginia State Senator Bill Bolling (R-Hannover) Supports Hanover County Planning Department
Read a brief timeline of the property history
Letter to Virginia State Police
Letter to Saving Graves from Virginia State Attorney Generals Office
Letter to Virginia State Attorney Generals Office
Letter to Members of the Syndor Family
NEW! Letter From Hanover County Attorney Generals Office Letter
29 April, 2001

Images

1937 Virginia Dept. of Agriculture Aerial Photograph
The area in question is just below center, the large area is the black cemetery and the smaller area at the two o'clock position is the Sydnor family plot.
1965 Hanover/Caroline Soil and Water Conservation Office Aerial Photograph
1990's Hanover/Caroline Soil and Water Conservation ) Office Aerial Photograph

Media Coverage

Media coverage of this story can be found here.

Virginia State Cemetery Law

For information on Virginia State Laws regarding Cemetery Preservation please visit the following links

Cemetery Preservation FAQ - Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Code of Virginia - Cemeteries
Saving Graves - Virginia

How You Can Help

It is vital that you stand up and be counted and let the media and the state, county and local government know how you feel. Let them know in no uncertain terms that this type of situation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The almighty dollar and developer interests have effectively encouraged and hastened the destruction of cemeteries and other features of historical interest not only in Hanover County, but nationwide. Sadly, no one cares for the most part, especially the local governing bodies. If they did, they would step in. But development means money to them. In many cases the developers have paid off the local officials i order to get them to look the other way. It's time to let those in government know that they represent us too. Don’t continue to sell us down the river. It's time for this to stop.

Please register your comments and concerns on this situation at our Message Board.
Express your opinion to Virginia State officials and local media here.
Locally, call 365-6000, ask for the County Administrator and let him know what you think.
In the hopes of preventing this from taking palace again, if you know of private family or slave or what ever kind of cemetery, please take the time to identify it to the county and the local historical society. In Hanover County, send it to the County Administrator, Hanover County, P.O. Box 470, Hanover , VA 23069. Also send a copy to the Hanover County Historical Society, P.O. Box 91, Hanover, Va., 23069. They have published two family cemetery books that don’t even scratch the surface and will publish more.

View the Photos

Back to Exhumed Cemetery at Pebble Creek

This page hosted by Saving Graves
http://www.savinggraves.org