Some time ago I had heard that if veterans are buried in a cemetery
there may be some laws that could apply.  But I don't know if they
were Michigan or Federal.  The case I was told about concerned
public access to a  cemetery which had become surrounded by
private land, and itself had come under private ownership.
 
Anna Mae Maday
Eddy Historical Collection
Hoyt Public Library
505 Janes Ave
Saginaw MI 48607
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517-755-9827
 
On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, James Murphy wrote:
 
> I am familiar with metal coffins with glass plates or windows over the face,
> which seem to have been popular ca. 1860-1880, but has anyone encountered
> similar windows associated with wooden coffins?
>
> The context is an 1868 burial in central Ohio but information is second hand
> from someone who was watching the exhumation of a small family cemetery.
>
> No archaeologist was present and, in this regard, removal of the burials was
> very sloppy.  Six months later, I have found two humeri, immature ilium,
> vertebra, and rib fragments scattered over the site.  The removal and reburial
> was handled by a lawyer and a crew with a backhoe.  As historic cemeteries do
> not really fall under federal historic preservation guidelines, I assume the
> only recourse is through the local court that provided permission for the
> removal.  I've already established that the SHPO does not feel that it has any
> jurisdiction in the matter.  Any ideas on this?
>
> Jim Murphy
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>