Abandoned cemetery could impact development

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — A proposed Lake Wylie housing community may have to make changes after the discovery of what could be an abandoned cemetery. The site is deep in the woods between Baker Lane and Bucleigh Road off Highway 49.

Matt Burton lives right next to the site and owns a large tract of land beside it. He told Channel 9 his grandparents first told him there were graves there when he was a child.

"I always thought she was just trying to be a good grandma and keep us out of there. Turns out it was true," Burton said.
Our Channel 9 camera took pictures of large, cut stones which appeared to be laid out at the same distance in several places.

Some had even been squared off and clearly were placed there. The area was covered in a field of periwinkle which was often planted over graves to keep grass from growing, according to historians.

Burton said it looked very much like an old graveyard.

"This definitely needs to be preserved because this is sacred ground," he said.

There are no head stones but York County has many similar unmarked and hidden cemeteries.

County historian Michael Scoggins said there's no way to know who the graves belong to without a good deal of study. He said it's unlikely the county would have any records of such a cemetery. Scoggins said he plans to visit the site soon.

The cemetery could impact a major development of new homes planned for the area. The county is currently looking at a proposed Lake Wylie overlay that would restrict development along the lake. It would allow fewer homes per acre and require more buffers.

That's fine for Allison Love who wants to see the overlay pass.

"We're already a thoroughfare and it's just getting busier and busier," she said.

Love signed up to speak to county council Monday night and tell elected leaders about the hidden grave sites.

She feels like the proposed subdivision would not only clear cut too much forest land, but would add traffic and congestion in the area.

The proposed overlay has already passed twice at county council. The final vote and public hearing are expected this month.
Efforts to contact the Charlotte builder looking to develop the property were unsuccessful on Monday.

Mike Trinkly of the Chicora Foundation works to preserve and protect cemeteries and other properties of historic value. He said that under state law a developer can move suspected graves, but the process is long and can be expensive.

It's not clear what will happen to the graves. There are a large number of hidden cemeteries around the county. Most are not discovered until the land is purchased with development in mind.