I get a generica picasa sign-in page from the link. No picture, so I’m going off of description.
MHO is that the ideal situation for you is that you find the memorial in such dangerous disrepair that you’ve got no choice but to take down the cross before it falls and maybe even pull out the decaying concrete. At which point you find out it’s in violation of ME DEP regulations so you can’t replace it (Gosh, even though you’d like to). Then you can try and contact the family and negotiate a smaller memorial.
Now you may not be lucky with the DEP regulations, but you might check and try and find out. And of course, it’s up to you to decide when it’s dangerously decayed, and emergency removal is required. However, if it’s not visible from your house, you could perhaps stand to wait a bit, and maybe try and diplomatically find out something about the family and what the other residents of town think of it. (The second part is easy, when you’re introduced you say “I’m Renee. We live out on XX road; the house with the big cross in the creek.” Now it’s pretty likely to get comments, and you haven’t directly asked them or given your opinion)
I mean, no point in making enemies if you don’t have to.
According to online sources, the woman and her granddaughter were swept away by the flood waters while they were walking on the road. I’m guessing their bodies were recovered where the memorial is.
Gather all the mementos into a box. Tell the family that you’re worried they’re going to wash or be destroyed by the elements. Express your condolences when you’re returning the objects.
Then, suggest that planting a tree might serve as a better memorial than a cross. An oak isn’t a bad choice. Come with a couple different suggestions prepared. Let them know to call you when they’ve made the decision about which of your suggestions would be the best, and maybe let them know that they’re free to visit the memorial whenever they want.
I think part of the problem, though, is that the memorial is 75 feet on her property. Put something at the side of the road, fine, but I don’t think I’d want someone trapsing around on my property even if that’s where the bodies were found.
I also think Maine and Wisconsin must have different definitions of “creek” since I don’t see any water at all in those pictures.
I appear to be in the minority, but if you can’t see it from your house and it is in an actual creek which you have access to and use of but don’t own as in have the right to dam up, and you don’t mind them the occasional visit to the area for reflection, what is it really hurting to leave it there?
I would leave it alone and ignore it or build a little rock grotto with a better looking cross on top, but it I feel it would be cruel to take it down.
I added a better pic of the actual creek. It kind of splits around the memorial, which is on soggy ground. Right now the area is flooded and marshy, but once the beavers and their dam are gone, it should revert back to a tidy creek.
I appreciate all the suggestions and am thinking on the situation. We aren’t in a huge hurry to deal with it and will likely discuss it with the neighbors before we do anything. It’s kind of hard since all the lots are big and the houses set way back off the road. You can’t actually see any other homes from our house.
The OP said it was in a creek. In these pictures, the right-most of four looks like a pond or creek to me.
Regardless, the DNR has their own definition – if you can float a canoe one day a year, it’s a navigable waterway, whether you call it a creek, pond or wet spot.
Take down everything in the middle of the stream right now while you’re dealing with the beaver situation. That makes it all part of your effort to restore the natural function of the stream.
Put it in a box, maybe one of those big tupperware boxes, so anyone who wants it can come get it.
If the bench is in good repair, maybe leave it, and put a brass plaque on in it in memory of the people who died.
Don’t ask permission, just do it fast so it’s a done deal.
People get really, really, pissed about children and parking. Violating a handicapped space with wheelchair access in nothing compared to THEIR CHILD.
Every Mother who ever existed believed her child to be the most attractive and brilliant.
I prophesy a shit storm that will make Frankenstorm look like a dust devil.
My, but that is ugly. When I first came in here it was to say ''what’s the harm?" but… no.
I like the suggestion to remove the mementos and keep them somewhere safe, then gauge community reaction. I like the idea of having some kind of community re-dedication of something more attractive, too. I also think you could contact the loved ones of the deceased, saying something to the effect of ‘‘I saw the heartfelt memorial built in the creek and really would like to create something more permanent that won’t be as vulnerable to damage…’’ For all you know they’ll just tell you to tear it down and forget about it.
Anyway, OP - I find the whole thing quite creepy; however, I’m not sure as a newby to the area I would just take it down. I think collecting the extra items in a box for the family is kind, and perhaps a tag on the bench as well.
You are sort of inviting people on to your property then, into an area where it can be potentially unsafe (obviously) - I might inquire with my home insurance company about personal liability if you go this route.
That was my first thought once I had seen the pictures.
Trouble with contacting the insurance company is that they might flip out.
The siting of that cross is just asking for some numpty to hurt themselves on boggy ground, and then file a claim against the homeowner.
Edit: and I would worry about kids coming to visit their friend’s memorial, hurt kids are going to be trouble.
