Graves at `poor farm' cemetery in business park to be moved

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A cemetery where residents at a former southern Indiana 'œpoor farm" were buried in the early 20th century will be moved from the grounds of a regional business park to another site at that complex.

A contract was approved last week by the River Ridge Development Authority Board to proceed with the relocation of the graveyard that once served what was known as Clark County's 'œPoor Farm." The county-run facility housed impoverished area residents who were poor and lacked a strong family network.

The Poor Farm Cemetery holds the graves of at least 27 people who lived at the facility and died there between 1923 and 1939, the News and Tribune reported.

Not much of that facility remains at the site a few miles northeast of Jeffersonville near the Ohio River. But the land on which it operated is now part of the River Ridge Commerce Center, which has developed into a major commercial and industrial hub.

River Ridge Executive Director Jerry Acy said the process of moving the graves will involve contractors and historical teams to document the removal and reinterment of the remains. The graves will be moved to another graveyard that's also located on the property.

'œIt's pretty detailed process,'ť he said. 'œIt's done in a very respectful, dignified way.'ť

Public notification will be made regarding the remains to alert any potential relatives.