To whom it may concern:

I grew up for a few years of my childhood on an old hunting club outside of Savannah, Georgia. This hunting club I was told used to be an old Plantation, Valambrosia Plantation I think I heard them say. I know there is an old slave cemetary out in the woods there. This place has been private property for so long that I doubt very few people know of it's existence, I do however remember the dishes and pottery that were out there. I know alot of it has long since been stolen since my youth, or vandalized by some kids when I was young, I know there are approximately 50 or more graves out there. My son and I went out there 3 or 4 years ago and were still able to piece together some of the pottery and managed to put them on a few graves. With the increasing need for people to move out to the country, this land will soon be up for building of one kind or another and I feel it a shame to know that this wonderful place under the pine trees may never be recognized for the people who are buried under the carpet of pine needles for so long now. I wonder if you can tell me who I could possibly contact that would be able to preserve such a find as this.As I have mentioned it is on private property,hardly any markings left except for a few sunken graves and some broken glass under the leaves,I have no clue as to how to handle this situation,except to say that It was always a quiet and tranquil place as a child and I could not bear to see it built on top of and to have the serenity of the cemetary broken. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. I remember being told of the slaves that worked the rice plantations off of the ogeechee river. I feel this is all that is left of those people and it needs to be preserved at all costs. I thank you for your patience and any help you can give me.

Can you preserve a slave cemetary on private property? Thanx

Peace, Glenda

[originally posted 6 Aug 2000 - ed.]