SHEPARD SETTLEMENT - It's a small plot, an unobtrusive modest 2.6 acres at the corner of Foster and Stump roads.
It would be easy for people not familiar with the area to drive by this locale without a second glance, to think of it as just another rural cemetery.
But to Lonnie Warner, Shepard Settlement Cemetery is a place that deserves attention, that warrants a spot on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
“It's a jewel,” Warner said as he surveyed the cemetery. “It's a golden nugget right here in our backyard.”
On July 27, Shepard Settlement resident John Rehme filed an application with the town of Skaneateles to set in motion the process of seeking these designations.
The application is just one of several areas that the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association is focusing on in the coming months as it expands its mission, said Ken Scott, president of the organization.
The group of roughly 43 residents began just more than a year ago, largely to present a unified front to the establishment of further mines in this hamlet in the northeastern part of town.
But with the mining overlay district amended - in June, the Skaneateles Town Board passed a law that decreases the overall size of the district and sets watercourse and property-line boundaries - the SSNA is looking to broaden the group's purpose.
“We're really trying to give different dimensions to this organization other than mining. We're really a quality-of-life organization,” Scott said. “The point is to keep evolving.”
To that end, members of the organization have turned their attention to various other issues, such as getting the speed limit reduced from 55 to 45 mph on parts of Stump Road. In July, the SSNA hosted a community picnic at which people currently living in the area - as well as those that haven't lived there for years - were entertained by a bluegrass band.
Not that mining has left the group's agenda. Scott said that the residents look forward to continued discussions and cooperation with the miners.
He praised Hanson Aggregates for listening to neighbors' concerns about the loud sounds of the burners they use to make asphalt. Hanson has since purchased new burners that produce much less noise, Scott said.
“We don't have the almost jet-engine noise that we had before,” he added.
And mining is still apparently an issue in regards to the association's application for the Shepard Settlement Cemetery to be added to the state and National Historic Registers.
Because the town of Skaneateles owns the cemetery, which is located on the north side of Stump Road, it must sign off on the application before it goes to the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The town, however, recently deferred a vote on the issue pending a decision on a special-permit application made by Cemento LLC.
“Deferral is not a decision on the merits. It just postpones it to a more appropriate time,” Town Supervisor Phil Tierney said. Tierney explained that the town attorney had advised the board that the historic designation might somehow affect Cemento's pending proposal.
Last year, Cemento applied for a special permit to mine on the north side of Stump Road, across the street from its current location. That permit sparked a moratorium - with two subsequent extensions - and yearlong discussion about the effects that many neighbors in the Shepard Settlement area say mining has on the environment, safety and road infrastructure.
The board eventually passed the new mining district, which reduces the size of the district but would still allow Cemento to go forth with its proposal. Cemento will be submitting a new site plan to be reviewed this month by the Town Planning Board, said Suzanne Rapalski, Planning Board secretary.
“I think the feeling is it would be unfair to do that at this late stage,” Tierney said about proceeding with the designation application before the special permit is voted up or down.
Tierney, who had voted against the format of the new mining overlay district in favor of one that would confine mining to the current mines only, said that the “majority” of the board was in favor of deferring the application at this time. He said he had no comment on his own opinion about the matter, saying that it hadn't been a formal vote.
Scott said that he did not see a relationship between the mining issue and cemetery application but that he understood why the town was being cautious to ensure that the municipality's zoning law was not in conflict with the state's parks and recreation law.
The process for earning a place on the state and National Historic Registers usually involves site visits and inspections, as well as the preparation of documents by the sponsor. The New York State Board for Historic Preservation reviews the application, and if the state Historic Preservation officer signs the nomination form, it is entered onto the New York State Register of Historic Places.
The nomination is then forwarded on to the National Park Service, where it is considered for the National Register.
Though SSNA members had hoped they could get the application process started, they have plenty of other areas on which to focus.
The group is about to kick off a membership drive and plans to create two types of membership. Voting members will be Shepard Settlement residents, a group known for being a tight-knit community, while associate members will be those who care about what goes on in the hamlet but don't have a residence there.
The group would also like Eagle Scouts or a nonprofit to do some archaeological work on a foundation of an old blacksmith shop that was recently located. Such projects, Scott believes, will fully develop the history of Shepard Settlement.
Rich history
Shepard Settlement Cemetery is special to the residents of the area not only for its peaceful beauty, but also for its rich history.
“Everything that says Shepard Settlement is gone except for the cemetery,” said Town Historian Beth Batlle, who supports the cemetery's designation to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Batlle noted that other historically significant areas such as the school and cobbler's workshop have been torn down.
“A lot of people around here have ancestors that are buried there,” added John Rehme, a member of the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association.
Many of the graves in the cemetery, which dates back to the early 1820s, are so old that the etching on the stones has been completely worn away, leaving
scattered markers with no names.
Karl Eldredge, town of Skaneateles cemetery superintendent, spends several hours a week tending to both Shepard Settlement and Mottville cemeteries. The town took over both formerly abandoned grave sites upon Eldredge's suggestion when he was a town councilor, Eldredge said.
“We keep it looking good,” Eldredge said. “Some people say it looks more like a park than a cemetery.”
And then there are the veterans.
There are about 20 veterans' graves in the cemetery. Flags and stars dot the landscape, indicating the location of veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II. And Irwin Shepard, who is not buried in the cemetery but has a sign in his honor there, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the Civil War. Shepard's grandfather, John, founded Shepard Settlement in 1794.
For more information on the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association, visit www. www.shepsett.com.
But to Lonnie Warner, Shepard Settlement Cemetery is a place that deserves attention, that warrants a spot on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
“It's a jewel,” Warner said as he surveyed the cemetery. “It's a golden nugget right here in our backyard.”
On July 27, Shepard Settlement resident John Rehme filed an application with the town of Skaneateles to set in motion the process of seeking these designations.
The application is just one of several areas that the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association is focusing on in the coming months as it expands its mission, said Ken Scott, president of the organization.
The group of roughly 43 residents began just more than a year ago, largely to present a unified front to the establishment of further mines in this hamlet in the northeastern part of town.
But with the mining overlay district amended - in June, the Skaneateles Town Board passed a law that decreases the overall size of the district and sets watercourse and property-line boundaries - the SSNA is looking to broaden the group's purpose.
“We're really trying to give different dimensions to this organization other than mining. We're really a quality-of-life organization,” Scott said. “The point is to keep evolving.”
To that end, members of the organization have turned their attention to various other issues, such as getting the speed limit reduced from 55 to 45 mph on parts of Stump Road. In July, the SSNA hosted a community picnic at which people currently living in the area - as well as those that haven't lived there for years - were entertained by a bluegrass band.
Not that mining has left the group's agenda. Scott said that the residents look forward to continued discussions and cooperation with the miners.
He praised Hanson Aggregates for listening to neighbors' concerns about the loud sounds of the burners they use to make asphalt. Hanson has since purchased new burners that produce much less noise, Scott said.
“We don't have the almost jet-engine noise that we had before,” he added.
And mining is still apparently an issue in regards to the association's application for the Shepard Settlement Cemetery to be added to the state and National Historic Registers.
Because the town of Skaneateles owns the cemetery, which is located on the north side of Stump Road, it must sign off on the application before it goes to the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The town, however, recently deferred a vote on the issue pending a decision on a special-permit application made by Cemento LLC.
“Deferral is not a decision on the merits. It just postpones it to a more appropriate time,” Town Supervisor Phil Tierney said. Tierney explained that the town attorney had advised the board that the historic designation might somehow affect Cemento's pending proposal.
Last year, Cemento applied for a special permit to mine on the north side of Stump Road, across the street from its current location. That permit sparked a moratorium - with two subsequent extensions - and yearlong discussion about the effects that many neighbors in the Shepard Settlement area say mining has on the environment, safety and road infrastructure.
The board eventually passed the new mining district, which reduces the size of the district but would still allow Cemento to go forth with its proposal. Cemento will be submitting a new site plan to be reviewed this month by the Town Planning Board, said Suzanne Rapalski, Planning Board secretary.
“I think the feeling is it would be unfair to do that at this late stage,” Tierney said about proceeding with the designation application before the special permit is voted up or down.
Tierney, who had voted against the format of the new mining overlay district in favor of one that would confine mining to the current mines only, said that the “majority” of the board was in favor of deferring the application at this time. He said he had no comment on his own opinion about the matter, saying that it hadn't been a formal vote.
Scott said that he did not see a relationship between the mining issue and cemetery application but that he understood why the town was being cautious to ensure that the municipality's zoning law was not in conflict with the state's parks and recreation law.
The process for earning a place on the state and National Historic Registers usually involves site visits and inspections, as well as the preparation of documents by the sponsor. The New York State Board for Historic Preservation reviews the application, and if the state Historic Preservation officer signs the nomination form, it is entered onto the New York State Register of Historic Places.
The nomination is then forwarded on to the National Park Service, where it is considered for the National Register.
Though SSNA members had hoped they could get the application process started, they have plenty of other areas on which to focus.
The group is about to kick off a membership drive and plans to create two types of membership. Voting members will be Shepard Settlement residents, a group known for being a tight-knit community, while associate members will be those who care about what goes on in the hamlet but don't have a residence there.
The group would also like Eagle Scouts or a nonprofit to do some archaeological work on a foundation of an old blacksmith shop that was recently located. Such projects, Scott believes, will fully develop the history of Shepard Settlement.
Rich history
Shepard Settlement Cemetery is special to the residents of the area not only for its peaceful beauty, but also for its rich history.
“Everything that says Shepard Settlement is gone except for the cemetery,” said Town Historian Beth Batlle, who supports the cemetery's designation to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Batlle noted that other historically significant areas such as the school and cobbler's workshop have been torn down.
“A lot of people around here have ancestors that are buried there,” added John Rehme, a member of the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association.
Many of the graves in the cemetery, which dates back to the early 1820s, are so old that the etching on the stones has been completely worn away, leaving
scattered markers with no names.
Karl Eldredge, town of Skaneateles cemetery superintendent, spends several hours a week tending to both Shepard Settlement and Mottville cemeteries. The town took over both formerly abandoned grave sites upon Eldredge's suggestion when he was a town councilor, Eldredge said.
“We keep it looking good,” Eldredge said. “Some people say it looks more like a park than a cemetery.”
And then there are the veterans.
There are about 20 veterans' graves in the cemetery. Flags and stars dot the landscape, indicating the location of veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II. And Irwin Shepard, who is not buried in the cemetery but has a sign in his honor there, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the Civil War. Shepard's grandfather, John, founded Shepard Settlement in 1794.
For more information on the Shepard Settlement Neighborhood Association, visit www. www.shepsett.com.
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