Miss/Mrs. Evans,
As a descendent of the Richardson family of that area and an academic
Historian, the Powers-That-Be view heavy equipment development as the only
form that garners them the needed publicity.  However, as a Public
Historian from across the border in NC, we view Virginia's treatment of its
historic resources as a model.  When I correct my colleagues & give them
concrete evidence that VA has done an excellent job of covering up its
historic preservation mistakes, they are dumb-founded.  Sustainable
development (like historic and cultural resources) does not garner many
votes but is less costly to local taxpayers in the long run.  I have served
for many years on a NC county's Historic Properties Commission and
developers see only short-term gains as their goal, not long-term
sustainability.  An historic site provides multiple generational benefit (a
significant plus on the balance sheet if we look at societal cost) while
industrial development lasts for a decade or two (or less, depending on
technology).  The cheap, fast buck always wins unless the argument can be
re-framed as "sustainable" (which plays off a buzzword few voters
understand but the Register & Bee can use in headlines).  In NC, I have
asked our County's Commissioners' why we should destroy an existing
resource to chase pie-in-the-sky money & development.  It worked but it is
not an easy task.
Good luck convincing them of the value of the long-term investment versus
the short-term profit.
Eric Richardson

On Fri, Dec 21, 2012 at 10:06 AM, Anne Evans
<[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> From Anne Evans - Descendant/Researcher Burton/Payne/Harrison/Fearn
> families
>
>
>
> Note regarding newspaper article -
>
> No bones found at potential industrial in Danville
>
> Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2012 12:00
>
> The recent articles in the Richmond Dispatch and the Danville Register and
> Bee newspapers about the slave graves recently found on the old Fearn
> Plantation that was “rediscovered” in Danville   - contain a number of
> fallacies. Unfortunately, I am unable to address all of these errors and
> omissions of facts in this email. I am wondering how can we get the city of
> Danville to care more about our opinions and issues and how to stop
> seemingly wrong and deceiving information from spreading. I wonder if folks
> on this list serve have encountered these problems?
>
>
>
> We want to find positive ways to address the issues…but we may be running
> out of time and choices. Those of us that love historical things are being
> pitted (and portrayed in a bad light) against folks wanting more jobs in
> the area (represented as knowing what is the best way to do things).
>
>
>
> Most Fearn descendants/researchers have to rely on a few newspaper
> articles instead of official reports. Regrettably these newspaper articles
> have had many errors and misleading statements. I realize the city is not
> entirely to blame since newspapers have limited time and space to devote to
> historical items.
>
>
>
> While Danville officials seem to be putting out some incorrect and perhaps
> very limited information about the site - some of the
> descendants/researchers (from both the white families and slave families)
> are trying to get copies of the actual “reports” from the city. These folks
> are very interested in the history of the entire site and the numerous
> prominent families associated with the site. What is also disheartening –
> after trying to work with the officials for almost a year – just days
> before Christmas – the officials have denied Fearn descendants/researchers
> a chance to review the reports.
>
>
>
> Several families have owned the historic plantation, including Wynne,
> Fearn and Brodnax families.   In 1858 John W. Brodnax sold the plantation
> to Azariah Graves Walters. The Walters family owned the plantation for over
> 100 years. It was sold in auction after the death of his grandsons Edmund
> Richardson Walters (b. 1873) and Azariah Graves Walters (b. 1871).
>
>
>
> Since the early 1960's Danville officials were interested in the land for
> industry as it was so close to the Dan River. Apparently the city had
> little or no interest in the historical ruins or graves on this site or in
> the nearby historic Wynne’s Falls area. This area was settled by some of
> Danville’s earliest white settlers. This history is significant not only to
> the region but noteworthy to all Virginians.   Many of these settlers and
> their descendants are well known and respected around the world.
>
>
>
> As a descendant and a researcher, I recently sent an email to Jeremy
> Stratton, director of economic development for The Danville Industrial
> Development Authority, asking for any news about the old Fearn plantation
> and how I could get copies of the new reports.   His reply was that “he
> first needed verifiable proof that I am a distant relative,” and stated
> that “there were no bones on the site.”
>
>
>
> I replied, asking what kind of verifiable proof.   His answer was
> “mitochondrial testing of course.”  I do not think it may be legal for the
> city of Danville to deny descendants/researchers copies of the reports,
> summaries and comprehensive, done by the Louis Berger Group and other
> consultants. And to require DNA results in order to get these reports – I
> think is outrageous.
>
>
>
> Danville continues to promote the statement “there are no bones found on
> the site” – however only a small number of grave shafts were sampled within
> the “slave” cemetery on the 158 acre site. There could be other grave sites
> where some of the other plantation owners may have buried their white
> family members. Also it is highly likely Thomas Fearn, Sr. (1745-1805) is
> buried on that site, and perhaps a son John and a daughter Isabella.
>
>
>
> Would the Danville officials...feel differently about the Fearn Plantation
> ...if they descended from the Fearn slaves?   If their family history had
> been ignored for generations?
>
>
>
> I appreciate any suggestions you might have regarding these issues.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anne Evans
>
>
>
> LINK TO ARTICLE -
>
>
> http://www.newsadvance.com/work_it_sova/news/article_ef9a4222-48ad-11e2-b5df-0019bb30f31a.html
>
>
>
>
>
> LINK TO ARTICLE -
>
>
> http://www.newsadvance.com/work_it_sova/news/article_ef9a4222-48ad-11e2-b5df-0019bb30f31a.html
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________
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>



-- 
Eric J. Richardson
Master's of Arts in History
Master's of Arts Candidate in English
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC 27707
[log in to unmask]
(336) 202-7341
"In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on
the next seven generations."
From the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy.

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