Bridges Project excavates former Cival War cemetery
Jeffersonville, IN (October 19, 2005) – In early September, archaeologists beginning
a search for human remains in Colston Park, a former Civil War and City cemetery
in downtown Jeffersonville, found reason to return for additional study.
To delineate the cemetery and confirm or deny the existence of grave shafts in the
park, the project team returned to perform excavation work on Wednesday, October
19.
The same team of consultants, including individuals from the ASC Group, Inc. returned
to excavate at least two archaeological trenches at the park. The trench size is
approximately three to four feet wide, 15 - 25 feet long and about six feet deep.
A backhoe was used to perform the excavation, which did not disturb any graves or
human remains. Any burial remains discovered were left in place and re-covered.
All park land disturbed will be reseeded in cooperation with the City of Jeffersonville.
“Our work at Colston Park will be completed with the utmost care and precision to
ensure that we do not disturb any burial remains at the park. The team of experts
executing this work understands the sensitivity of working in an area where people
may still be interred,” noted Jeff Vlach, Environmental Commitments Manager with
Community Transportation Solutions (CTS-GEC), the General Engineering Consultant
on the Bridges Project.
The September above-ground geophysical study results showed possible grave-like
magnetic anomalies in the park’s soil – variations in soil density indicate possible
grave shafts. Following the two-day study that incorporated magnetic and electrical
resistivity methodologies, a summary report was submitted to the Indiana Division
of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. That office reviewed the data and approved
the recommendation to return and excavate.
The Ohio River Bridges Project team initiated the study because Indiana law mandates
that any disturbances within 100 feet of a cemetery require the preparation of a
development plan to address the encroachment. The project must determine if the
area will impact final design of the Jeffersonville approach to the New Downtown
Bridge.
A historical marker at Colston Park describes the cemetery and indicates that the
buried Confederate and Union soldiers were not moved before the area became a park
in 1920. United States government records contradict that, however, and denote that
the bodies were moved. Also, local records indicate that the area served as a city
cemetery as early as 1807. Thus, further study to delineate the western boundary
of the cemetery is needed before final design on the approach continues.
The Bridges Project public involvement effort includes Historic Preservation Advisory
Teams in each state. Project team members meet with the groups regularly to review
project work and ensure that historic mitigation measures are being addressed properly.
The Ohio River Bridges Project addresses the long-term, cross-river transportation
needs in the Louisville-Southern Indiana region. The Federal Highway Administration,
Indiana Department of Transportation and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet agreed
that the only feasible way to meet cross-river transportation needs was to construct
two new bridges and rebuild the Kennedy Interchange. Of a variety of options studied,
the alternative selected would best achieve the transportation needs with the least
amount of impact on environmental resources and the communities.
The Bridges Project is currently in the design phase and is tentatively scheduled
to be complete by 2020. For more information, visit the Project Web site, at
www.kyinbridges.com.