Discover Smith Mountain Lake
SUMMER 2016
19
18
MAJOR
UNDERTAKING
3
RELOCATION OF
GRAVES WAS A
In this part of ruralVirginia, it is not unusual to see large
numbers of family cemeteries still in use within a radius of
only 20 or so miles.There is, no doubt, a practical reason
for this custom; however, these numerous small cemeteries
created quite a challenge for APC when it undertook the
monumental task of preparing the ground to receive the
captured waters of the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers.
Besides cutting timber from the land and removing
buildings that would end up under water,APC was
responsible for finding and relocating all the graves that
would be affected.Also,Virginia law requires a reasonable
good-faith effort be made to notify the families or
descendants of the buried individuals before relocating.To
remove remains, one also must file a bill in court.These
rules also apply to Native American burial sites.
Earliest settlers buried their dead on land on which they
were homesteading, and since tillable land was scarce,
especially in the mountains, family cemeteries were
typically on land that was deemed unsuitable for other use,
such as raising crops, or as pasture for cattle. Consequently,
it was difficult to get grass or any other attractive ground
cover to grow over graves in most family cemeteries.
In an effort to keep graveyards from becoming unsightly,
people would scrape the surfaces of the graves to remove
all unwanted vegetation. Ornamental bushes were
occasionally planted, but cemeteries were typically near
mature trees, where there was only dappled sunlight and
plantings had to fight the sturdier native vegetation for
space and water. Resourceful souls found a solution:They
plantedVinca, or Periwinkle, as it is commonly called.
This sturdy, persistent vine soon became the most popular
planting in cemeteries in the Mid-Atlantic area.
As most gardeners will tell you, Periwinkle can be very
invasive and it will flourish in partial shade or full sun
in ground that is rocky and sandy and not particularly
fertile. It does just fine on hillsides with sharp drainage. It
is vigorous enough to keep down tree saplings, brier and
honeysuckle and is hardy even in areas with harsh winters.
Add to this the fact that it has an appealing evergreen leaf
and produces a charming little blossom. No wonder it was
so widely used.
In 1960 as the Smith Mountain Project was taking shape,
Weekdays at 1:10 PM
with Dennis Silvers
WSLK
Lake Radio 880
WITH CHRIS WITTING
Weekdays at 12:10 PM
WSLK
Lake Radio 880
The Barn Cat Buddies
Needs Barns, Greenhouses,
Marinas, and Wineries To Employ
Feral and/or Friendly Cats As
Rodent Control Technicians
E A LIFE AND GO GREEN
Visit www.barncatbuddies.org
ALL BUDDIES ARE STERILIZED & RABIES VACCINATED
References Required/Donation Greatly Appreciated
*We Have NO Barn Homes Available Now-In Desperate Need*
Will Mouse In Exchange
For Free Room and Board
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
WWW.BARNCATBUDDIE
Angels of Assis
344-8707 ext. 3
The Barn
Needs Barns
Marinas, and W
Feral and/or
Rodent Contr
SAVE A LIFE
Please Save
Of Being Killed
Visit
ALL BUDDIES ARE STERILI
References Required/Dona
*We Have NO Barn Homes Avail
Will Mouse
For Free R
The Barn Cat
Buddies
Will Mouse In Exchange For Free Room and Board
Needs Barns, Greenhouses, Marinas, and Wineries To Employ Feral and/or Friendly Cats As
Rodent Control Technicians
ALL BUDDIES ARE STE ILIZED & RABIES VACCINATED
References Required/Donation Greatly Appreciated
*We Have NO Barn Homes Available Now-In Desperate Need*
SAVE A LIFE AND GO GREEN
Please Save Cats In Danger Of Being Killed In Our Shelters
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