Ostrander and Scioto Township History

The cemetery is the center of controversy regarding National Lime and Stone Company's intentions.  The only evidence that remains of the cemetery is the memorial stone to the freed-slaves pictured in the photo album.  Scioto Township Trustees have removed the grave markers and placed them in a barn owned by the township.  Although township trustees claim they have no right, nor responsibility, to preserve and maintain the cemetery, they have worked in conjunction with the stone quarry to remove the stones.  Part of this controversy is with regards to Trustee Richard Moxley being an employee of National Lime and Stone Company.

David Cooper, of Ostrander, stumbled across the issues regarding Crawford Cemetery as part of an effort to document Scioto Township's history.  Township trustees continue to argue the grave markers were placed in the barn to protect them due to their being carved from sandstone.  David Cooper argues that they stones have not deteriorated at all, yet a walk through any other cemetery in Scioto Township will net you handfuls of grave markers that have deteriorated to the point they can not be read.  Yet, Scioto Township has not removed these stones and thrown them in a pile in the township barn.