North Carolina is one of the
nation's fastest-growing states. But
as development encroaches on wooded
land once occupied by small farms,
builders often encounter an unwelcome
surprise — one of the state's estimated
30,000 abandoned graveyards, many
of them dating from before the Civil
War. When they do, they often call on
Phillip Ellen, of Southern Pines, N.C.,
to sort things out. Ellen is the ultimate
excavation subcontractor: For nearly
40 years, his company, Phillip Ellen &
Associates, has specialized in relocating
graves.
Most site preparation involves
paperwork, and moving graves is no
exception. Before Ellen can begin moving
dirt, the developer must advertise
the intended relocation in the legal
section of the local paper for four consecutive
weeks, to give