MADISONVILLE HISTORIC CEMETERY UPDATE:
Due to the recent field investigation completed by archaeologist, burials are limited to remaining spouse (proof required) and availability. No one can be buried in the cemetery without getting approval by the cemetery board and town. State and Federal cemetery laws must be followed requiring certain restoration procedures of existing graves. ALL repairs must be approved by the cemetery board. This includes adding a headstone to a marked or unmarked grave. All the current marked and unmarked graves have been cataloged. Desecrating a cemetery is a felony and punishable by fines and possible jail time and will be enforced by the town.
Through ground penetrating radar and field studies, it was determined that there are many graves that have been lost due to flooding and by disturbances caused by new burials. The historical and archaeological importance of the cemetery must be protected and will soon be registered through the Louisiana Division of Archeology in Baton Rouge.
Archaeologist Joseph Yarbrough will be at our next Friends of the Cemetery meeting on Thursday, November 7th at 6 p.m. at town hall to discuss his findings and recommendations.