Necessary Space: I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Westlake (Tarrant Co.)

Friday, Mar. 07, 2008
What lies beneath: Roanoke maps I.O.O.F. Cemetery
By A. Lee Graham
Staff Writer
Nancy Matocha/Staff Photographer

Westlake’s historical cemetery, founded by the Independent Order of Oddfellows in 1897.

What lies beneath a 5.5-acre cemetery along J.T. Ottinger Road remains a mystery — for now.

But nothing will elude radar technology hoped to identify every subterranean object in the Roanoke I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Westlake.

“Our first step is to locate all existing grave sites and any unmarked graves,” said Troy Meyer, the town’s facilities and recreation director.

By “first step,” Meyer referred to a planned study aimed at maximizing the use and marketability of a cemetery acquired only a few months ago. Though active since 1897 when the Independent Order of Oddfellows purchased the property for burial use, only recently was the tract turned over to Westlake.

“We’re in a very rapidly growing metropolitan area,” said Mayor Scott Bradley. “I think demand for space will just go straight up.”

How many graves exist on-site remains unknown. And though listed as “active” in the Denton County Cemetery Guide, those seeking a place in the cemetery will have to wait.

“If someone wanted to buy a lot, I’d take their name and say I’d give them a call,” said Meyer.

That’s because officials hope to improve cemetery services and its appeal to potential customers before entertaining offers.

“For us to run it effectively, we really need to know these things for now and in the future,” said Meyer, adding that its size will remain the same.

About $10,000 has been allotted for a cemetery “master plan.” And part of that sum could allow an Arlington-based firm to probe every inch of ground.

“We help determine where any graves might be,” said Ray McCoy, whose Yellow Rose GPR Inc. helps community cemeteries identify remains and other objects beneath cemetery soil.

Since opening four years ago, the Arlington firm has used ground-penetrating radar equipment for subterranean scanning. Westlake officials could decide whether to employ the firm as early as next week.

“We could find buried people just about anywhere in there,” said Alderman Pete Steger.

With that in mind, McCoy’s firm would use technology that’s helped police with homicide investigations.

“We can tell law enforcement where they [deceased people] are and can scan immediately and say, ‘Yep, there’s a body there,’” said McCoy, though emphasizing that no such criminal investigation is ongoing in Westlake.

By contracting with Yellow Rose, McCoy said Westlake could save unforeseen liability expenses. “They could determine where graves are, and that way, they never open an existing grave. Cities get into a lot of trouble for the unlawful opening of a grave.”

When unmarked graves and other objects have been identified, other facets of the study will begin.

“At that point, we’ll go out and mark off each section,” said Meyer. “Each one would be named differently.”

Whether dedicating sections to babies, seniors — even naming different sections after the original 12 disciples of Jesus — cemeteries have chosen many name schemes.

“There’s just a variety of things that could be done,” said Meyer.

http://www.alliancenews.net/home/story/12570.html
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The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Sort of unusual http://www.yellowrosegpr.com/

This reminds me of a technique resorted to by prehistorians, and which is described in 'Changing Landscapes and Lifeways along the Trinity: Archaeology and History of Ray Roberts Lake' (C. Reid Ferring et al.: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/UNT Institute of Applied Sciences, 1990). Called proton magnetometer surveys, they

"... are conducted in areas where the ground has been disturbed by features (hearths, buried trash pits) that were associated with prehistoric or historic occupations. The magnetic intensity at each recording station ... [is] plotted, and a contour map ... produced to identify areas where the magnetic intensity exhibits high positive or negative characteristics. Buried features such as hearths, trash pits, and metal exhibit high positive characteristics. Burials have negative characteristics, and some features such as cellars have both negative and positive characteristics." (pages 14 and 15)

Would the radar technique employed by Yellow Rose GPR., Inc., supplant this older method?

Also, dear Gene Morris is able accomplish something near this without the benefit of high technology.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves