A few words from Blaine
Hello, my name is Blaine Price. I am a passionate amateur historian, genealogist and cemetery preservationist. I am asking for your help to stop the senseless destruction and desecration of nearly 80 known graves in the Hoskins Cemetery at Island Creek located in Clay County, Kentucky. Among those interred there are Native Americans, Veterans of the Civil War, World Wars I & II, a memorial to a soldier killed in action in the Korean War, as well as many descendants of some of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky's earliest settlers.
One would think that the final resting place set aside over 125 years ago would be sacred ground and that those that lived out their days with the peace of mind that their graves would be undisturbed would have the respect of subsequent generations. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
The land containing the Hoskins Cemetery is now owned by the Clay County School Board, which is arguably the largest employer in Clay County and, as such, carries mighty political and economic weight in the community. There have been veiled and not-so-veiled threats of prosecution, loss of employment, and even physical violence against those that oppose this action.
The CCSB first stated that they wanted to build a ball field on the site, but due to public opposition, they changed their stance to one of concern about the safety of the staff and students at the nearby school, even claiming at one point that the cemetery posed a threat as a potential "sniper's nest" in a desperate and wholly transparent attempt to garner public support for their horrific plan. The board owns 140 acres, and surely this three quarters of an acre is not the only place a ball field can be built.
There is a committee of concerned citizens and descendants of some of those buried there (which I am honored to be a member of), who has waged a valiant but as yet unsuccessful battle to block this desecration. Most of the funds used to wage this fight have heretofore come from family members, concerned citizens and donors who disagree with the proposed plan to move the graves. We have a dedicated team willing to see this through but we need your help with funding for court filings and the like. All monies donated will go toward the legal costs associated with this case.
PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION and CLICK HERE to help SAVE the historical Hoskins Cemetery
Please keep in mind that although you may not have loved ones or ancestors buried at the Hoskins Cemetery, if this is allowed to go on it will set a dangerous precedent for the destruction of future cemeteries. There are tens of thousands of small, family cemeteries scattered throughout the hills, hollers, and fields of our beautiful commonwealth. Please help us not only stop the destruction of this cemetery, but to change and strengthen the laws so that future efforts of this kind cannot be carried out. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL!! Thank you in advance for your support.
Also there's an online petition with over 2400 signatures opposing this UNTHINKABLE action by the Clay County School Board that can be signed HERE.
Blaine K Price
Paris, Kentucky
About Blaine Price:
Blaine grew up and resides in Paris, in Bourbon County, and has family ties to Eastern Kentucky. He has had a lifelong interest in Kentucky & American history, with an emphasis on Appalachian and Native American culture. He spends most of his free time these days on genealogy and cemetery preservation, and enjoying antique and classic automobiles.
###
RELATED: Op-Ed: Veterans of the Hoskins Cemetery at Island Creek Hill in Clay County, Kentucky
