This is from a March 23, 2010 article written in the Franklin Times Newspaper of Louisburg, NC By: CAREY JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer.

New residents in the North Ridge subdivision could expect to have some of the quietest neighbors on record.

Contractors began clearing a lot at the subdivision a few weeks ago, coming upon a private cemetery plot dating back to the 1700s.

Some neighbors were concerned that contractors were disturbing the gravesite.

However, realtor Ed Shearin said his company always knew the cemetery was on the site.

In fact, crews were working around the head stones to clear the property, preserve the site and make it more attractive to buyers.

"We waited until this time of year to clear it because, normally, you would not have been able to see the head stones," Shearin said. "Some of those vines were as big as your arm."

Neighbors contacted The Franklin Times, and the county's planning office, code enforcement officer and sheriff's office were notified about the development.

It is against the law to wilfully deface or desecrate a gravesite.

Franklin County Sheriff's Det. J.S. Whitman said there was no criminal activity at the property, which sits off E.F. Cottrell and U.S. 401.

"They were cleaning up the lot with some pretty big equipment and it may have gotten caught up in some vines," Whitman said."

"When they realized it was at the gravesite, they stopped excavating and went around the tombstones."

Whitman said crews also cut down some old trees near the head stones.

"There was no intent to do any damage or deface the gravesite," Whitman said. "There will be no charges filed."

The only action that could be taken is civil action, Whitman said, if relatives of those buried at the site allege that the head stones were damaged during the clearing process.

Still, he said, it's impossible to discern whether the graves were damaged or if their state is the result of age and neglect.

"The only damage we could tell was where the trees grew up between some of the stones and they knocked them over," Whitman said.

"It looked all natural," he said. "One of the stones that was pointed out might have been a fresh break, but it could have come from one of the vines being pulled by the backhoe.

"There is no telling what caused it, but I don't think there was the intent to damage it."

Shearin said there was no intent.

In fact, he plans to erect a fence around the small family cemetery plot.

If the land is sold to develop a house, the cemetery lot will be sold as well.

The new owner would not be allowed to deface or desecrate the graves, either.

"It probably could be a problem to sell, but I've sold them before," Shearin said.

"... We had a site like that in Granville County and after we cleaned it up, no one had a problem with buying the lot.

"It's a small family cemetery and after we clean it up, it won't be an eyesore," Shearin said. "And some people think they are the best neighbors.

"You don't have to worry about noise or other (neighbor) problems."