There are recent photographs of Sweet Olive Cemetery in Baton Rouge that can be seen on Facebook from John Gallent. The link to the photo album is below. This 2006 photograph is of volunteers from the LSU Honors College Freshman initiating one of two volunteer clean-ups at Sweet Olive Cemetery. You can read about the 2006 clean up effort here. I've tried several times to contact the LSU Honors College for more information concerning this cemetery, but have had no luck.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?page=2&aid=2445573&id=23418888
Evidently, The Advocate, posted a video about this cemetery back in October 2008 as having been damaged from hurricane Gustav. Another blogger, historicalbatonrouge.blogspot.com, had posted that in April 2007 a truck smashed through the fence at this same cemetery and damaged tombs.
The Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance, Inc. has listed Sweet Olive Cemetery as a historical cemetery that the city supports as a landmark. This is what they have to say about Sweet Olive from their website:
Sweet Olive Cemetery, located in the heart of Mid City, is the oldest African-American cemetery in Baton Rouge. The Community Development office supports the revitalization of this important cultural landmark by organizing volunteer clean-ups and assisting in the grant-writing process. The goal of this project is to enhance the appearance, safety and overall atmosphere of the cemetery, creating a safer, more attractive environment for residents, visitors and tourists.
A "representative" of Sweet Olive Cemetery has been enlisted in a study according to Louisiana Legislative document HLS183. The proposed study of historical cemeteries will end in April 2009. Members of the wiki, Louisiana Cemetery Preservation, can view a better copy of this document here.
HLS 08RS-5412ORIGINAL
Regular Session, 2008
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 183
BY REPRESENTATIVES MARCHAND AND SAM JONES
CEMETERIES: Requests the House Commitee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural
Afairs to study the issues related to the preservation of historic cemeteries and the
creation of a historic cemetery preservation fund
1A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the House Commitee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Afairs to
3studyand make recommendations relative to issues related to the preservation of
4historic cemeteries and the creation of a historic cemetery preservation fund and to
5report its findings to the House of Representatives by April 15, 2009.
6WHEREAS, cemeteries are among the most valuable historic resources of the state
7of Louisiana as cemeteries can reveal information about the historic events, religion,
8lifestyles, and genealogyof a local community; and
9WHEREAS, in addition to being resting places for our dead, many of Louisiana's
10cemeteries are repositories of significant examples of art, architecture, and archaeology; and
11WHEREAS, the importance of cemeteries should not be taken lightly, as cemeteries
12represent a substantial tourist atraction for the state of Louisiana, and also present an endles
13source of data for historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and genealogists that
14colectively lead us to a beter understanding of our own culture; and
15WHEREAS, historic cemeteries face dramatic pressures from development, from
16abandonment and decay, from nature, and from vandals, and the demolition, destruction, and
17damage of historic cemeteries is a disrespectful practice; and
18WHEREAS, existing state laws do not provide for adequate protection of historic
19cemeteries; and
Page 1 of 4
HLS 08RS-5412ORIGINAL
HR NO. 183
1WHEREAS, during the 2008 Regular Sesion of the Legislature, the House
2Commitee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Afairs held a hearing on House Bil No.
31092 which proposed to establish the Louisiana Cemetery Historic Preservation Program
4within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and additionaly proposed the
5creation of the Louisiana Historic Cemetery Trust Fund in the state treasury to fund the
6program; and
7WHEREAS, during the 2008 Regular Sesion of the Legislature, the House
8Commitee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Afairs held a hearing on House Bil No.
91334 which also proposed the creation of the Louisiana Historic CemeteryTrust Fund in the
10state treasury; and
11WHEREAS, testimony in commitee indicated that there was substantial support for
12the creation of a historic preservation program and the creation of the cemetery trust fund but
13also substantial opposition to the creation of the program and trust fund.
14THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
15Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the House Commitee on Municipal,
16Parochial and Cultural Afairs to study and make recommendations relative to isues related
17to the preservation of historic cemeteries and the creation of a historic cemetery preservation
18fund.
19BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commitee shal specificaly solicit the input,
20recommendations, and advice of those who can provide relevant information and suggestions
21to the commitee based upon their expertise and experience, including but not limited to the
22folowing:
23(1) A representative of the ofice of the lieutenant governor.
24(2) A representative of the Department of Health and Hospitals, ofice of vital
25records.
26(3) A representative of the Louisiana Cemetery Board.
27(4) A representative of Save Our Cemeteries.
28(5) A representative of the National Trust for Historical Preservation, New Orleans
29Field Ofice.
30(6) A representative of the Louisiana Historical Society.
Page 2 of 4
HLS 08RS-5412ORIGINAL
HR NO. 183
1(7) A representative of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
2(8) A representative of the National Center for Preservation Technology and
3Training, Natchitoches.
4(9) A representative of the Louisiana Landmark Society.
5(10) A representative of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Ofice of Cemeteries.
6(11) A representative of the Shreveport Historic Preservation Society.
7(12) A representative of the Kinder Cemetery Asociation located in Kinder,
8Louisiana.
9(13) A representative of the Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society located in
10Shreveport, Louisiana.
11(14) A representative of the Friends of Historic St. Nicholas Cemetery.
12(15) A representative of the Liberty Chapel Cemetery Asociation located in Dry
13Prong, Louisiana.
14(16) A representative of the St. Martinvile Cemetery.
15(17) A representative of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Ofice of Cemeteries.
16(18)Arepresentativeofthehistoriccemeteries (Magnolia andHighlandCemeteries)
17located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
18(19) A representative of the Sweet Olive Cemetery located in Baton Rouge,
19Louisiana.
20(20) A representative of the Fenten Cemetery Association located in Fenten,
21Louisiana.
22(21) A representative of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Asociation.
23(22) A representative of the Crescent CityFuneral Directors Asociation.
24(23) A representative of the Louisiana CemeteryAsociation.
25(24)ArepresentativeoftheLouisianaFuneralDirectorsandMorticiansAssociation.
26(25) A representative of the Louisiana Monument Dealers Association.
27(26) A representative of the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers.
28(27) A representative of the Friends of the Greenwood Cemetery of Shreveport.
29(28) A representative of the city of Franklin Historic District Commission.
Page 3 of 4
HLS 08RS-5412ORIGINAL
HR NO. 183
1BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that al departments, boards, agencies, oficers, and
2institutions of the state and al subdivisions thereofshal cooperate with the commitee in
3providing information to assist the commitee in carying out its responsibility pursuant to this
4Resolution.
5BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commitee shal report the results of its study
6and its recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House of Representatives of
7the Legislature of Louisiana by April 15, 2009.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. Itconstitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
MarchandHR No. 183
Requests the House Commitee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Afairs to study and
makerecommendationsrelativetoissuesrelatedtothepreservationofhistoriccemeteriesand
the creation of a historic cemetery preservation fund.
Provides that the commitee shal solicit the input, recommendations, and advice of those who
can provide relevant information and suggestions to the commitee based upon their expertise
and experience from representatives of specified organizations.
Requires al state departments, boards, agencies, oficers, and institutions and al subdivisions
of the state to cooperate with the commitee in providing information to assist the commitee.
Requires that the commitee report the results of its study and its recommendations, including
proposed legislation, to the House of Representatives by April 15, 2009.
Page 4 of 4
larep099@legis.state.la.us Rep. Marchand joness@legis.state.la.us Rep. Jones
