In Kentucky you can bury someone in your back yard, pretty much hoop-free.
You aren't required to be embalmed, and you can have your own coffin, even a
custom-made one http://www.vintagecoffins.com/ About the only requirement
that we have is that the coffin or casket is supposed to be purchased in the
state. Not sure how strictly that is enforced, however. 

Daniel B. Davis
Archaeologist Coordinator
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Division of Environmental Analysis
200 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40622
(502) 564-7250

-----Original Message-----
From: Cranmer, Leon [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cement Burial Case


Many years ago I was talking with the owner of Egg Harbor Vault Co. in Egg
Harbor, NJ.  He had just returned from a cemetery where some years before he
had put in a vault for a burial and the husband of the deceased wanted his
vault installed at the same time, and he wanted the top sealed.  Normally
the tops were sealed after the coffin was in place.  Well, the husband had
just died and the vault company owner and crew had just returned from
spending most of a day trying to remove that sealed top.

I believe in NJ vaults were (are?) required by state law for environmental
reasons.  This was over 30 years ago, though. In Maine you occasionally see
trucks equiped with a chain hoist carrying vaults, but it is not a state law
but rather up to the individual cemetery.  You can still bury someone in
your backyard here after jumping through many loops.  Is this common in
other states?

Lee Cranmer
Maine Historic Preservation Commission

Melissa Diamanti wrote:

> I am trying to research a "Cement Burial Case" company that was based 
> in SE Pennsylvania c. 1920's to 1980.  But I know nothing about their 
> product.  I've been impressed with the range of knowledge among the 
> readers here, so I thought I'd give it a try:
> Can anyone tell me what these burial cases w ere? See above Are they 
> caskets made of cement? No  The coffins are placed in the vaults which 
> are laid ib the ground This soulds like an extra-heavy load for pall 
> bearers.  Or is it some kind of covering over the casket, or a grave 
> chamber that the casket is set in, instead?
> Also, what is the period of use?  When (and why) did these things come 
> into fashion/popularity, and has this trend died out?
> Replies are welcome either on or off the list.
> Melissa Diamanti
> Archaeological & Historical Consultants, Inc.
> [log in to unmask]