Email Chain Between Bambi Teague and Bob Heafner

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The Slave Meadow

Email Chain Between Bambi Teague and Bob Heafner

Emails between Bob Heafner and Bambi Teague of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Begins 02/26/2010 at 11:59 PM and ends on Thursday, Wed 5/19/2010 7:49 AM

Online: May, 2010

From: "Bob Heafner" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
To: <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Sent: 02/26/2010 11:59 PM
Subject: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Dear Ms. Teague;

On May 4, 2007 you sent me the attached letter regarding the former slaves buried on NPS property in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. In the letter you mentioned that "a National Park Service archeologist familiar with ground penetrating radar recently found nine graves" in the Meadow. Was "ground penetrating radar" actually used to locate the graves and, if so, was it used to attempt to locate any graves in the close proximity of the Langhorne family graves immediately adjacent to the Meadows of Dan Baptist Church Cemetery?

What is the current status of your efforts to replace the headstones moved during Parkway construction 75 years ago?

I know you are a busy person in a busy service but I would appreciate your prompt reply to these questions.

Thank you,

Bob Heafner
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(See attached file: 070504_BambiTeague.pdf)

From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 6:47 AM
To: Bob Heafner
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Subject: Re: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Bob,

Nice to hear from you again. Hope you are doing well.

We have protected the slave cemetery at Meadows of Dan, but have made no
further efforts to place headstones there. Our maintenance staff was going to bury concrete blocks at the corners of the 9 graves so we would have a permanent deliniation of the site.

Working through Appalachian State University, we completed a study of African-American influences on the Parkway. The study completed in the fall 2009 identifies many sites along the Parkway that have a history with the African-American community. We have reviewed and approved the report and recently distributed the report to our interpretive staff who will make decisions about interpretation of this information.

If you have information on families associated with the graves, we would like to get contact information. Before we take any further action at the site, we want to discuss the issue with relatives who may have an interest in and wish to have input into our next steps.

Thank you for your continued interest.

Bambi

From "Bob Heafner"<This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
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Sent 03/09/2010 02:58 PM
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Subject RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Bambi,

I appreciate your prompt reply; however, I do have a few questions.

(1) Was "ground penetrating radar" actually used to locate the graves?

(2) Was it used to attempt to locate any unmarked graves immediately adjacent to the Langhorne family graves, where Mr. Matt Burnett said the slaves were buried?

(3) Would you please send me a copy of the report created by Appalachian State University regarding African-American influences on the Parkway?

Your prompt reply will be appreciated.

Thank you for continuing to explore ways to acknowledge the contribution of African-Americans to the Blue Ridge.

Sincerely,

Bob Heafner
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From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 4:36 PM
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Subject: RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

H3015

Mr. Bob Heafner
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Dear Bob:

This is In response to your email of March 9 (included below). Ground penetrating radar was used to locate the unmarked graves on Parkway land. Sampling occurred throughout he field on NPS lands, including lands near the Langhorne family graves. Please note that radar sampling did not include church owned lands.

The "ground penetrating radar" located five definite and four likely (nine total) graves parallel to each other some distance away from the Langhorne graves. Portions of an old roadbed was also identified between the Langhorne graves and the "slave" graves. UTM coordinates were taken for all nine graves so their location will be preserved in perpetuity. No other graves were identified in the field.

As requested, a copy of the ASU report entitled Historic Resource Study: African-Americans and the Blue Ridge Parkway is attached for your information. Our new cultural resource specialist Steven Kidd will be making a presentation to our seasonal staff in May about recent cultural resource research on the Parkway, including the African-American study.

Bambi

(See attached file: 20100125132619.pdf)

From: Bob Heafner [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 12:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia
Importance: High

Hi Bambi,

I cannot tell you how much I appreciated receiving a copy of the ASU study from you. Thank you very much.

Regarding the GPR study of the meadow, Mr. Matt Burnett was very specific in where the graves were located and he showed me the area under, or near, the large poplar tree immediately adjacent to the Langhorne family graves. I only wish I had known when the GPR study was being conducted so that I could have been there and pointed out the sunken graves Mr. Matt showed me and which still are in evidence today.

Mr. Matt was also very clear that the headstones were moved to the woods adjoining the meadow during Parkway construction. He was one of the persons who moved the headstones and this is why replacing the headstones was so important to him. He told me that he meant to put the headstones back but by the time he got around to it the stones could not be found.

In your email dated March 9, 2010, you asked if I knew anything more about the slaves buried on the site and I do not. However, I recently found two references to African-American in the Ferrum College section of the Digital Library of Appalachia. Both were contained in interviews of Mr. Fred Clifton and were conducted by Ralph Wimmer. The Interviews are located at * http://www.aca-dla.org/cgibin/queryresults.exe?CISOROOT1=all&CISOOP=all&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISORESTMP=%2Fsite-templates%2Fsearch_results.html&CISOVIEWTMP=%2Fsite-templates%2Fitem_viewer.html&CISOMODE=grid&CISOGRID=thumbnail%2CA%2C1%3Btitle%2CA%2C1%3Bsubjec%2CA%2C0%3Bdescri%2C200%2C0%3B0%2CA%2C0%3B10&CISOBIB=title%2CA%2C1%2CN%3Bsubjec%2CA%2C0%2CN%3Bdescri%2CK%2C0%2CN%3B0%2CA%2C0%2CN%3B0%2CA%2C0%2CN%3B10&CISOTHUMB=2%2C5&CISOTITLE=10&CISOBOX1=Fred+Clifton&x=15&y=5.

In the interview Mr. Clifton tells about the only Black person he knew who lived on the mountain. "The Mountain" is the way local people refer to the Meadows of Dan, Vesta, Mayberry and surrounding communities. The man's name was Burl Hubbard.

I suggest you speak with John M. Johnson, who is one of, if not the foremost, researchers of African-American history in Southwest Virginia. His email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He is currently having back problems and may not be able to answer an email immediately but I'm sure he will assist you in any way possible.

I shared the attached interview segment of Mr. Clifton with John and he has found references to the wife and two children of Burwell (Burl) Hubbard. Neither of us knows at this point if Mr. Hubbard was a former Langhorne slave or not but John's work could at least offer an avenue to explore.

Do you have contingency planning underway in case you are unable to find descendents of the Langhorne slaves? If so, I would very much appreciate knowing what NPS plans are regarding restoring headstones or erecting a monument in The Slave Meadow.

If the NPS conducts any public hearings on this matter, please let me know as I would like to attend if at all possible.

Is action needed from Congress for funding or any other matter related to replacing the headstones or erecting a monument in The Slave Meadow that would assist in your efforts?

Please keep me informed of developments regarding The Slave Meadow, as this is a matter very dear to my heart. I have been writing articles in The Mountain Laurel and talking to Parkway officials starting with Gary Everhart and Bob Hope, since 1984 in my attempt to fulfill my promise to Mr. Matt Burnett that I would do everything I could to see that the headstones would be replaced.

I trust that replacing these headstones and acknowledging the role of African-Americans in early Blue Ridge culture is our mutual goal and after reading the ASU study I am very encouraged and will assist in any way possible to achieve this goal.

I noticed in the first paragraph on page 23 of the ASU study that a reference is made to (See figure 50), what is "figure 50?" There was also a reference to (Guidelines for Maintenance, Rule 25, 1979) at the end of that paragraph, what is Rule 25? Are the "Guidelines for Maintenance" available online?

Thank you again for the copy of the ASU study. I would like to post the study on our website at http://www.mtnlaurel.com/slaves/slave_meadow.htm, am I permitted to do this? If not is there an online link to the study where we could direct the public?

Sincerely,

Bob Heafner
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(* UPDATE: This was not a part of the original email. The URL that is shown above in strike through font has changed to: http://dla.acaweb.org/cdm/search/searchterm/Fred%20Clifton/order/nosort.)

-----Original Message-----

Bambi

From "Bob Heafner" This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
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Sent 04/05/2010 10:57 AM
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Subject RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Hi Bambi,

I am still awaiting your reply to my email of March 16, 2010, regarding the following:

Is the NPS planning to conduct any public hearings on this matter? No

Additional questions:

Was the ASU study conducted with public funds? Yes

Do you have a map of The Slave Meadow showing the exact locations that were tested using GPR? Yes

Is the ASU study you sent to me the final revision? No

Is replacing The Slave Meadow headstones a goal of the National Park Service? We have not made a decision one way or the other on replacing individual headstones. We are seeking advice on whether to replace headstones for which we have no documentation on their original character. I assume large stones, rather than engraved granite. A monument commemorating the site is not our goal since it would require congressional approval.

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply,

Bob Heafner
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From: Bob Heafner [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 4:28 PM
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Subject: FW: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia
Importance: High

Bambi,

First let me apologize for my email of Thursday, April 5th, I did not see where you had answered the questions at the end of each line in your reply of Wednesday, April 7th. I do appreciate your reply and all the answers you provided.

I have found the names of three of the slaves buried in The Slave Meadow and two names of free African-Americans buried there after the Civil War.

As you probably already know, the African-American slaves of James Steptoe Langhorne were among the founding members of Meadows of Dan Baptist Church.

In your reply you stated, "A monument commemorating the site is not our goal since it would require congressional approval." Would the Blue Ridge Parkway support an independent effort to secure congressional approval to erect a monument in The Slave Meadow? If not, why not?

The ASU study seemed to be suggesting a site to commemorate the African-American Blue Ridge experience at other locations. This would be great but it does not address the lack of gravestones or a monument in The Slave Meadow.

However, one could argue that the true story of African-Americans in the Blue Ridge could never find a better place to be commemorated than The Slave Meadow. This meadow is the final resting place of slaves and free African-Americans. Here adjoining a small mountain church with a predominately White congregation they, as slaves, were among the founding members. Everything I have read about the National Park Service, starting with the Organic Act of 1916, clearly states that preserving cultural heritage on NPS lands is a top mandate of the NPS. The Slave Meadow and the story of these people are as much a part of our collective national cultural heritage than one could hope to find.

Do you have any idea when the ASU study will be signed off on?

Can I get a copy of the GPR map?

Again I apologize for missing your answers in your email of April, 7th.

Best wishes,

Bob Heafner
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From: "Bob Heafner" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:18:27 -0400
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Subject: RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Bambi,

Would the Blue Ridge Parkway support an independent effort to secure congressional approval to erect a monument in The Slave Meadow? If not, why not?

Do you have any idea when the ASU study will be signed off on?

Can I get a copy of the GPR map?

Can I get a copy of the study conducted by Philip E. (Ted) Coyle?

In the first paragraph on page 23 of the ASU study a reference is made to (See figure 50), what is "figure 50?" There was also a reference to (Guidelines for Maintenance, Rule 25, 1979) at the end of that paragraph, what is Rule 25? Are the "Guidelines for Maintenance" available online?

Thank you,

Bob Heafner
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Wed 5/19/2010 7:49 AM
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Subject RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Hi Bob,

I've tried to answer your questions below.

Bambi

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Subject RE: Slave Meadow at Meadows Of Dan, Virginia

Bambi,

Would the Blue Ridge Parkway support an independent effort to secure congressional approval to erect a monument in The Slave Meadow? If not, why not? No, we would not want a monument at the slave cemetery. It is not in keeping with the cultural landscape the park has developed. Also, there is no where to pull off to park to inspect.

Interpreters have the information, and of course, and they will incorporate it walks and talks they give, depending on the appropriateness. But where we locate a wayside or other interpretive device has not been decided. We will more likely tell the story at Doughton Park where a segregated picnic area was constructed behind the lodge.

Do you have any idea when the ASU study will be signed off on? I do not. I have a meeting up there later in the week and I will ask. NPS sign off will take longer, though, since it goes through our regional office. My experience has been that it takes about a year.

Can I get a copy of the GPR map? The GPR data for the grave locations would be considered sensitive information, and we do not share sensitive information with the public.

Can I get a copy of the study conducted by Philip E. (Ted) Coyle? We have not received Ted's final report. Once its received and approved through our regional office, it would be available for the public.

We are revising the 1979 guidelines for maintenance of cemeteries since they were never followed. I do not know what the "rule 25" means nor does our maintenance staff who theoretically would have implemented the plan. [Answer to question below.]

Thank you,

Bob Heafner
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Email Chain Between Bambi Teague and Bob Heafner

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