HANGING ROCK – The identity of the deceased was unknown to the mourners, the remains unearthed by graverobbers and the marker stone missing, but about a dozen volunteers returned the bones back to its resting place this weekend.

Monday, May 07, 2001

HANGING ROCK – The identity of the deceased was unknown to the mourners, the remains unearthed by graverobbers and the marker stone missing, but about a dozen volunteers returned the bones back to its resting place this weekend.

Volunteers started at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with a burial service for the remains of an unidentified person unearthed from the old Kelley cemetery several weeks ago.

The burial plot, possibly the resting place of a child, was looted and the remains of the individual lay scattered on the ground until they were recovered by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.

"Amazing Grace," played on a bagpipe by Mark Anderson, filtered through the trees and along the river bottom lands of Hamilton Township as the remains were once again commended to the earth by the Rev. Willard Large to rest in peace.

After the burial, about a dozen volunteers turned their attention to cleaning the cemetery of underbrush and trees, restoring the historic site to a state of good repair.

Debbie Rogers, volunteer and organizer of the event, said the community is supportive of the restoration efforts. Local funeral director Tom Phillips donated a casket for the unearthed remains. McDonald’s restaurant in Ironton donated lunch to the volunteers. Dr. James Milleson donated cleaning supplies. And the Hamilton Township Volunteer Fire Department donated chainsaws, weed-trimmers, soft drinks, water, time and manpower to the cleanup.

Mrs. Rogers said the cleanup will also allow the group to document names on the graves found in the cemetery. She said the names will be recorded and cross-referenced with other historic information about the cemetery.

The community involvement at the historic site has also prompted help from Calpine Inc., a company planning to build a natural gas-fired power plant on the old Goldcamp Farm. Calpine officials have offered to fence the area after the cleanup.

Mrs. Rogers said the cemetery contains the remains of the first family of Lawrence County who settled in Hamilton Township.