And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 22:57:12 -0500 To: Ishgooda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: The Iron Horse subdivision Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Ashland project may affect historic house, burial site BY AL J. LAUKAITIS Lincoln Journal Star PHOTOS BY CHRIS BENDET/ Lincoln Journal Star http://www.journalstar.com/stories/neb/stox Trouble: The Iron Horse subdivision near Ashland may have run into trouble. Two state agencies are saying that the land could contain significant Pawnee and Otoe burial sites and historic places associated with Nebraska's early settlement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ More than a century ago, American Indians called the locomotive an iron horse. It was a disturbing sight: black smoke belching from a metal beast rolling across the Great Plains. Today that same name is still causing trouble for American Indians. But instead of a locomotive it's a $90 million luxury housing development called Iron Horse steamrolling the east edge of Ashland. The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and the Nebraska State Historical Society, bitter enemies a few years ago, now have formed an alliance to put the brakes on the project. The reason: They say the 275 acres planned for quarter-million-dollar homes , a lake and a championship golf course could contain significant Pawnee and Otoe burial sites and historic places associated with Nebraska's early settlement. Both agencies are drafting a letter asking the attorney general for a legal opinion clarifying the role of the Indian Commission when local zoning changes might have an adverse impact on unmarked burial sites. "Our concerns ... are that they will be disturbing sacred burial sites," Judi Morgan, the Indian Commission's executive director, said Tuesday. "From the maps that I've seen it looks like there ... would be strong affiliations with the Oto e and Pawnee tribes." A review of society records shows the Iron Horse tract also includes the historic Israel Beetison House and visible wagon ruts of the Ox Bow Trail, both listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The tract also is close to the Ashland site where archaeologists have found pottery shards, flint, tools and other evidence of extensive American Indian occupation dating back to 1100. Burial goods attributed to the Otoe and Pawnee tribes were repatriated from sites found near the Iron Horse tract. Developer Tim Young with Bayer-Young of Omaha said he's examined the site and found no evidence of Indian burial grounds or of significant historic sites. "We're moving dirt, and we have not even ... run into any possible burial sites," Young said Tuesday. "I've instructed the graders that if they do run into any possible bones to stop and call me immediately." The Iron Horse subdivision will have 265 lots and an 18-hole golf course. Lots are selling for $40,000 to $110,000. Homes will start at $250,000. The subdivision is sandwiched between U.S. 6 and Nebraska 66 midway between Lincoln and Omaha. Construction began in March after the city of Ashland granted developers a preliminary plat. About 100 acres have been graded, including the first nine holes of the golf course. Seeding will take place in September, and the course could be ready to play next year. No houses have been built, but street paving could begin in October. Young said home sites are selling very well, with about 50 percent of the lots going to Lincoln buyers. He declined to say how many lots have been sold. The historical society, meanwhile, remains wary of the development. "Based upon this extensive research and survey, development in this area is extremely sensitive and subject to public, legal and tribal interests," Robert Puschendorf wrote in a July 9 letter to the Ashland Planning Commission. "Developmen t is of gravest concern to identified and potential cultural, historic and archaeological properties." Puschendorf, deputy state historic preservation officer, said the society would like to investigate the site with the Indian Commission and tribal leaders -- a group the society once was sorely at odds with over the handling of Indian remains. But the new alliance cannot examine the site because the 275 acres is private property. The only way they could examine the property is if the developer invited them to do so, or if burial remains or goods were discovered during construction, said Rob Bozell, another society official. Developers then have a legal obligation to contact the c ounty attorney and the historical society. Young said he first became aware of the possibility of historic and American Indian sites on the land after talking to area landowners about a year ago. He said he and other project investors will comply with federal and state laws regarding such sites. Discussions already have been held with Ashland officials about the future of the Beetison House, built in 1874-75 out of native limestone. Young said the three-story house is in "pretty bad condition" but has been included in a large lot on the preliminary plat, so it won't be disturbed. Several people already have shown an interest in buying it. The house, which sits on a hill, i ncludes a cupola with a sweeping view of the Platte River Valley and the state Capitol, about 30 miles away. "It would compare favorably to many of the state's finest examples of that style including the Thomas P. Kennard House in Lincoln," Puschendorf said of the house built in the Italianate style. Chris Anderson, Ashland city administrator, said city officials were aware of the Beetison House, but did not know about wagon ruts or the possibility of American Indian sites on the tract until the Historical Society informed them. Ashland officials, he said, are ironing out a developer's agreement with Boyer-Young to protect the Beetison House. Other historic or cultural sites could be included in that document, he said, which is a legally binding contract between city and develop er. "We have to be very careful to ensure that the developers follow all of the applicable laws," Anderson said. "I don't think that this causes the subdivision to come to a halt, but they just need to be careful on how they do the grading and be aware of the sites up there." Anderson also wants the historical society to present any evidence of any actual sites on the Iron Horse subdivision. To date, he said, neither the developer nor city officials have been able to locate any wagon ruts or possible burial sites. Bozell, the society's associate director for archaeology, said the chances of finding Indian sites on the tract are very good because archaeologists have found dozens of such sites adjacent to the property and farther south near the Mahoney State Park I- 80 interchange, excavated about 10 years ago. "I'm certainly not an advocate of preserving everything that is out there, but there are extraordinary sites that ought to be preserved, and there might be some there -- we just don't know," he said. Bozell said some sites on Iron Horse land were excavated in the 1930s before a quarry was established. He said he is not concerned about what may have been damaged by the quarry, but what could be left. "What's actually in there, I really don't know," Bozell said. "I never had an opportunity to look." Developer Young said the quarry covers about two-thirds of the site, and farming has disturbed some of the remaining property. He said he has walked "every square foot" of the tract and found nothing, but acknowledged he is no expert on Indian burial or cultural sites. Asked whether he would be willing to invite the historical society to do an archaeological survey, he replied: "I am most certainly willing to listen to them to see what their concerns are and their interests." Copyright © 1999, Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved. 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