[Louisiana Cemeteries] More cemetery damage likely from Gustav in West Baton Rouge Parish, River Rd. near Bueche, LA
- From: LouisianaGenealogy Blogs <louisianagenealogyblogs@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Louisiana Cemetery Preservation Wikispace Admin." <louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxx>, lacemeterypreservation@xxxxxxxxxx, LA CEMETERY PRESERVATION MAILING LIST ROOTSWEB <la-cemetery-preservation@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:24:36 -0800 (PST)
Emailed author to see if this cemetery can be mapped in google.
Family shocked by cemetery destruction
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?s=9414449
Posted: Nov 25, 2008 02:40 PM PST
Updated: Nov 26, 2008 04:16 AM PST
Cemetery Damage
By Paul Gates - bio | email
mailto:pgates@xxxxxxxx
BUECHE, LA (WAFB) - It's been almost three months since Hurricane Gustav blew
through south
Louisiana. The storm caused major damage to one small cemetery.
Gustav brought down a huge tree that crushed open caskets at the cemetery on
River Road near
Bueche, Louisiana. A couple on an afternoon drive noticed the damage and was
shocked at what
they saw.
Robert Ramey and his wife were out for a Sunday drive recently along River
Road. They
stopped to visit a cemetery they spotted, something they've done on worldwide
travels. What
they saw here though was not interesting or informative. It was shocking. "Oh,
just
horrified, just absolutely, just taken aback. We left, thinking what can we do?
We need to
do something. That's when I emailed you," Robert Ramey said.
A news crew went to the cemetery and saw what the Ramey's saw, damage believed
to have been
caused by Hurricane Gustav. A huge tree had fallen and smashed open concrete
vaults and
caskets. The skeletal remains outlining the pelvic bone and the vertebra of a
corpse were
clear to see. Clothing of some kind were twisted around the decomposed legs and
bones of a
small, frail person. There was also a skull floating in a water filled casket.
We contacted state Assistant Attorney General Ryan Seidemann. An effort is
underway to try
to remedy this situation. "We were asked by the cemetery board to get in touch
with the
coroner's office in West Baton Rouge Parish to look into this and see if
there's anything we
can do to assist. That's what we intend to do," said Seidemann.
Robert Ramey feels strongly about the problem. "This needs to be cleaned up..
These people
need to have a new and respectable burial right here in this same place." There
may be some
doubt about whether Hurricane Gustav caused the tree to fall, but it's the only
answer right
now. There is absolutely no evidence of vandalism or grave robbing here. We
understand the
West Baton Rouge Coroner's Office, which is run by Yancyi Guerin, intends to
gather the
remains for protection.
PAUL GATES INVESTIGATES
Repair process begins at cemetery with damaged caskets and vaults
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9420845&nav=menu57_2
Posted: Nov 26, 2008 02:37 PM PST
Updated: Nov 27, 2008 03:24 AM PST
Paul Gates Follow-up on cemetery damage
By Paul Gates - bio | email
BUECHE, LA (WAFB) - The West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office and the parish
president
have moved very swiftly and efficiently following a story about broken caskets
and exposed
human bodies in a cemetery on River Road near Bueche.
"You know, after we were contacted yesterday with Paul Gates, we saw the need
to get this
matter taken care of," said WBR Parish President Riley Berthelot. The matter
was a small
cemetery on River Road West.
A huge tree had fallen, most likely during Hurricane Gustav. The tree broke
open a dozen or
more vaults and caskets, exposing the human remains of those laid to rest.
Yancy Guerin,
chief death investigator of the West Baton Rouge Coroner's Office, was
notified. He then
contacted Berthelot.
Early Wednesday, a huge undertaking got underway at the cemetery. Heavy
equipment began the
job of cutting up the giant tree to remove the heavy limbs from the broken and
busted vaults
and caskets. Inside were bodies, some still in their burial clothing. The
bodies were
removed and placed in body bags to be taken to the coroner's morgue. Smaller
body parts,
mainly bones and skulls, were gathered with as much care as possible.
"We're going to do our best to make sure that the integrity of the remains are
protected and
any personal belongings we find in there," said Guerin. Assistant Attorney
General Ryan
Seidemann, who was given on loan from the Attorney General's Office, made sure
that no human
remains were left behind. Parish President Berthelot did the same, knowing just
how
important this work is. "The emotional part of it, these are the people's
families and loved
one. It's just something you've got to handle very gingerly."
Guerin has mapped the small plot of ground, tracking each body, making sure
that everyone
will be accounted for when the meaning and the purpose of this little country
cemetery is
put back together again. "The ones that are unidentified, we're not going to
make an attempt
to ID them. We are just going to give them a case number and make sure they get
put back in
the same spot. We will move at least five today. I think everything else is
secure enough
that we can leave," he said.
A blood relative of many of those buried in the cemetery, Sidney Poray, showed
up Wednesday
to look at what was going on. When asked if he felt a lot better seeing the
work happening
now, he replied, "Oh! Right now, this time right here, I'm rejoicing. Something
is done
about it and I really appreciate it."
Once the actual title holder of the land the cemetery sits on is identified, if
at all, it
is possible that FEMA can help. Parish President Berthelot says FEMA has a
program for
disaster-related incidents involving historical buildings, cemeteries, and
such, so help
from FEMA could be a blessing for the people with dead relatives buried in the
cemetery.
One transcript for W. Baton Rouge Parish
sharon.txt at LA Archives USGenWeb
files.usgwarchives.net/la/westbatonrouge/cemeteries
USGS West Baton Rouge "cemetery"
Alford Cemetery 532107 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 303406N 0911857W LA Walls 8 26
- 04-JUN-1980
Allendale Cemetery 550991 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302948N 0911715W LA Lobdell
7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Antioch Baptist Cemetery 542904 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302248N 0911437W LA
Baton Rouge West 7 23 - 01-JUN-1992
Benevolent Society Cemetery 532935 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 303008N 0911340W
LA Scotlandville 8 26 - 04-JUN-1980
Glennon Cemetery 535248 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 303753N 0911846W LA Port
Hudson 10 33 - 04-JUN-1980
Greater Shiloh Missionary Cemetery 542803 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302944N
0911833W LA Lobdell 6 20 - 01-JUN-1992
Mount Olive Cemetery 542788 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 301939N 0911342W LA
Plaquemine 6 20 - 01-JUN-1992
Saint Catherine Cemetery 551079 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302929N 0911532W LA
Lobdell 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Saint John Cemetery 538871 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302308N 0911416W LA Baton
Rouge West 8 26 - 04-JUN-1980
Silvery Cemetery 539378 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302749N 0911652W LA Lobdell 5
16 - 04-JUN-1980
Westover Cemetery 551099 Cemetery West Baton Rouge 302844N 0911720W LA Lobdell
6 20 - 01-AUG-1993
USGS West Baton Rouge "church"
Feature Detail Report
Feature ID: 533513
Name: Bueche Church
Class: Church
Citation: Collected during Phase I data compilation (1976-1981), primarily from
U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000-scale topographic maps (or 1:25K, Puerto Rico
1:20K), various edition dates, and from U.S. Board on Geographic Names files.
Entry Date: 04-Jun-1980
Elevation(ft/m)*: 26/8
Counties
Sequence County Code State Code Country
1 West Baton Rouge 121 Louisiana 22 US
Coordinates (One point per USGS topographic map containing the feature, NAD83)
Sequence Latitude(DEC) Longitude(DEC) Latitude(DMS) Longitude(DMS) Map Name
1 30.5649113 -91.3392767 303354N 0912021W Walls
Feature name Feature Id Class County Latitude Longitude State Map Ele(m)*
Ele(ft)* BGN Entry Date
Zion Traveler Church 540605 Church West Baton Rouge 303207N 0911842W LA Walls 7
23 - 04-JUN-1980
West Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church 551097 Church West Baton Rouge 302717N
0911227W LA Baton Rouge West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Sunrise Baptist Church 551091 Church West Baton Rouge 302840N 0911232W LA Baton
Rouge West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Shiloh Baptist Church 551089 Church West Baton Rouge 302742N 0911229W LA Baton
Rouge West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Sharon Church 539298 Church West Baton Rouge 303227N 0912113W LA Walls 6 20 -
04-JUN-1980
Scotts United Methodist Church 551088 Church West Baton Rouge 302717N 0911212W
LA Baton Rouge West 8 26 - 01-AUG-1993
Saint Rock Church (historical) 551086 Church West Baton Rouge 302841N 0911741W
LA Lobdell 5 16 - 01-AUG-1993
Saint Peters Church 539058 Church West Baton Rouge 303303N 0912422W LA
Erwinville 8 26 - 04-JUN-1980
Saint Pauls Church 539038 Church West Baton Rouge 303345N 0912014W LA Walls 7
23 - 04-JUN-1980
Saint Marys Church 538984 Church West Baton Rouge 302039N 0911450W LA
Plaquemine 7 23 - 04-JUN-1980
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church 551084 Church West Baton Rouge 302307N
0911412W LA Baton Rouge West 8 26 - 01-AUG-1993
Saint Francis Church (historical) 551083 Church West Baton Rouge 302022N
0911116W LA Plaquemine 8 26 - 01-AUG-1993
Saint Catherine Church 553039 Church West Baton Rouge 302946N 0911541W LA
Lobdell 8 26 - 01-JAN-1994
Rock Zion Church 551076 Church West Baton Rouge 302123N 0911520W LA Addis 7 23
- 01-AUG-1993
Rock Zion Baptist Church 542832 Church West Baton Rouge 302122N 0911520W LA
Addis 7 23 - 01-JUN-1992
Poplar Grove Baptist Church 551066 Church West Baton Rouge 302921N 0911210W LA
Baton Rouge West 9 30 - 01-AUG-1993
Pilgrim Church 538138 Church West Baton Rouge 303406N 0911846W LA Walls 8 26 -
04-JUN-1980
New Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 551062 Church West Baton Rouge
302746N 0911253W LA Baton Rouge West 6 20 - 01-AUG-1993
New Hope Church 551061 Church West Baton Rouge 302452N 0911257W LA Baton Rouge
West 8 26 - 01-AUG-1993
New Hope Baptist Church 542905 Church West Baton Rouge 302452N 0911256W LA
Baton Rouge West 7 23 - 01-JUN-1992
Mount Zion Church 537431 Church West Baton Rouge 303639N 0911926W LA Walls 8 26
- 04-JUN-1980
Mount Olive Church 542782 Church West Baton Rouge 301937N 0911341W LA
Plaquemine 6 20 - 01-JUN-1992
Mount Bethel Church 542798 Church West Baton Rouge 302946N 0911622W LA Lobdell
8 26 - 01-JUN-1992
Little Saint Paul Spiritual Church 542907 Church West Baton Rouge 302452N
0911318W LA Baton Rouge West 6 20 - 01-JUN-1992
Kingdon Hall 551044 Church West Baton Rouge 302840N 0911411W LA Baton Rouge
West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Kingdom Hall 553006 Church West Baton Rouge 302840N 0911411W LA Baton Rouge
West 7 23 - 01-JAN-1994
Israelite Baptist Church 554845 Church West Baton Rouge 302230N 0911435W LA
Plaquemine 8 26 - 04-JUN-1980
Holy Spirit Catholic Church 551037 Church West Baton Rouge 302719N 0911221W LA
Baton Rouge West 8 26 - 01-AUG-1993
Holy Family Catholic Church 552999 Church West Baton Rouge 302719N 0911221W LA
Baton Rouge West 8 26 - 01-JAN-1994
Gloryland Church 551030 Church West Baton Rouge 302500N 0911318W LA Baton Rouge
West 6 20 - 01-AUG-1993
Gloryland Baptist Church 542908 Church West Baton Rouge 302459N 0911316W LA
Baton Rouge West 7 23 - 01-JUN-1992
Gilfield Church 551029 Church West Baton Rouge 302805N 0911613W LA Lobdell 6 20
- 01-AUG-1993
Gifield Baptist Church 542800 Church West Baton Rouge 302805N 0911611W LA
Lobdell 5 16 - 01-JUN-1992
First Baptist Church of Port Allen 551026 Church West Baton Rouge 302723N
0911218W LA Baton Rouge West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Church of Christ 551018 Church West Baton Rouge 302705N 0911243W LA Baton Rouge
West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Christ Baptist Church 551017 Church West Baton Rouge 302953N 0911822W LA
Lobdell 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Charismatic Fellowship Church 542799 Church West Baton Rouge 302945N 0911550W
LA Lobdell 7 23 - 01-JUN-1992
Calvary Church 533636 Church West Baton Rouge 303230N 0912050W LA Walls 6 20 -
04-JUN-1980
Bueche Church 533513 Church West Baton Rouge 303354N 0912021W LA Walls 8 26 -
04-JUN-1980
Brown Church 553785 Church West Baton Rouge 302825N 0911647W LA Lobdell 5 16 -
04-JUN-1980
Antioch Church 550995 Church West Baton Rouge 302249N 0911440W LA Baton Rouge
West 7 23 - 01-AUG-1993
Addis Church 550989 Church West Baton Rouge 302218N 0911518W LA Addis 5 16 -
01-AUG-1993
Addis Baptist Church 542833 Church West Baton Rouge 302217N 0911518W LA Addis 6
20 - 01-JUN-1992
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