UPDATE – We have a court date scheduled for June 25th. In order to preserve Eastern we need everyone to print, sign, and mail the template to Judge Bisig.
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As many of you know, a weak section of the historic concrete cemetery wall on Rogers Street was knocked down last year due to a drunk driver. We have been in consultation with the Attorney General’s office to work out estimates for the insurance claim to repair the wall. However, some of the residents on neighboring Rogers Street have sent in their own proposal and estimate for wrought iron fencing and a gate, so that they can continue to access Eastern Cemetery as their own dog park and neighborhood park.
As the Friends of Eastern Cemetery, we believe that the historic wall needs to be rebuilt as is.
In our opinion and in the opinion of many preservation experts, new wrought iron fencing is not appropriate for Eastern Cemetery, for the following reasons:
- There is no historic precedent that there was ever an entrance on Rogers Street. The only wrought iron fencing on the property is along Baxter Avenue, which was the main, historic entrance. We believe we should preserve, not alter, the historic aspects of the cemetery.
- Replacing this section of concrete wall with wrought iron fencing also sets a precedent that the neighbors of a cemetery have the right to dictate its preservation and restoration. This is a very slippery slope.
- Wrought iron fencing is not as secure as a solid concrete wall. This provides more opportunity for those who wish to do harm to access Eastern Cemetery. If scrappers cut down portions of the fence and gate, who would then have to pay for the repairs?
- Lastly, Louisville-Jefferson County Ordinance 43.01 states, “No person, except those to whom certificates granting right of burial have been issued and their accompanying friends shall enter any cemetery within Louisville Metro at any time without permission, and persons are prohibited from entering or leaving cemetery grounds except through the gates provided by the cemetery proprietor for that purpose.” A new gate on Rogers Street goes against this ordinance as it was not provided by Eastern Cemetery’s proprietor presently or historically.
Please help us in this endeavor to protect and preserve the historic Eastern Cemetery by writing a letter to Judge Angela Bisig in support of rebuilding the historic concrete wall at Rogers Street. Judge Bisig will be deciding the fate of Eastern Cemetery’s wall.
Judge Angela Bisig
30 Judicial Circuit, Division 10
700 W Jefferson Street, Suite 901
Louisville, KY 40202-4734
You can copy and paste or print this letter for ease of use in contacting Judge Angela Bisig:
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Dear Judge Angela Bisig,
Eastern Cemetery needs your help! As a friend of Eastern Cemetery, I believe that the historic wall needs to be rebuilt as is.
I share the opinion of the Friends of Eastern Cemetery and the opinion of many preservation experts that new wrought iron fencing is not appropriate for Eastern Cemetery, for the following reasons:
1.) There is no historic precedent that there was ever an entrance on Rogers Street. The only wrought iron fencing on the property is along Baxter Avenue, which was the main, historic entrance. We believe we should preserve, not alter, the historic aspects of the cemetery.
2.) Replacing this section of concrete wall with wrought iron fencing also sets a precedent that the neighbors of a cemetery have the right to dictate its preservation and restoration. This is a very slippery slope.
3.) Wrought iron fencing is not as secure as a solid concrete wall. This provides more opportunity for those who wish to do harm to access Eastern Cemetery. If scrappers cut down portions of the fence and gate, who would then have to pay for the repairs?
4.) Lastly, Louisville-Jefferson County Ordinance 43.01 states, “No person, except those to whom certificates granting right of burial have been issued and their accompanying friends shall enter any cemetery within Louisville Metro at any time without permission, and persons are prohibited from entering or leaving cemetery grounds except through the gates provided by the cemetery proprietor for that purpose.” A new gate on Rogers Street goes against this ordinance as it was not provided by Eastern Cemetery’s proprietor presently or historically.
I urge you to rule in favor of the proposal submitted by the Friends of Eastern Cemetery whose mission is to protect and preserve Eastern Cemetery.
Sincerely,
