Cedar Creek Lake ~ Stanford/Crab Orchard, KY

Cedar Creek lake is a 784-acre reservoir in eastern Lincoln County, KY between Stanford and Crab Orchard. The project, first conceived in 1989, was to result in a recreational and economic jewel for Lincoln County. It was a joint venture of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the leaders of Lincoln County ... most importantly, ex-Judge-Executive John Sims who envisioned the project.

During the preparations for Cedar Creek Lake, it was decided to leave all trees and brush to provide a habitat for the future lake's many species of fish. In areas without trees and brush, cement-filled buckets with arrays of 5' long wooden sticks protruding out, anchored downed trees and other various fish habitat improvement structures were placed to fill in these bald areas.

Any developments, such as houses and certain sections of old US 150, were removed (except for the old US 150 bridge crossing Cedar Creek). Before the lake's impoundment, a small section of Kentucky Rt. 1770, the Hebron Methodist Church and the Vardeman/Holmes/Daws/Stephenson Family Cemetery in Crab Orchard, KY were relocated.

On 16 Feb 2003, due to excessive amounts of rain, the lake was filled sooner than predicted. This impounded 784 acres of the 14,000 acre Cedar Creek watershed, making Cedar Creek Lake the second largest state-controlled lake in Kentucky.

Removing Artifacts & Remains
from the Vardeman/Holmes/Daws
Stephenson Cemetery

Online Post by David Vardiman Dated 21 Jul 2000

"Dear Family, The removal of remains from the (Vardeman/Holmes/Daws/Stephenson) cemetery will take several more weeks, weather allowing. The University of Kentucky is preparing the remains for collection of forensic data, possible DNA data, etc. According to Shawn Pilllips, project manager, this is an unprecedented study never conducted in Kentucky before. The opportunity to study several identified generations from such an early time period is a rare opportunity. While visiting the dig last week we also viewed the new cemetery site. I believe it will work very nicely as it should still be on original Vardeman land grants and overlook the Cedar Creek valley and their homestead site. The homestead site is also scheduled for complete archaeological digging. Some of the remains will have complete facial reconstruction work done, so that we may see what Morgan Vardeman and possibly his wife Polly looked like. We are discussing the re-dedication service in two years once the remains are completely studied and put back to rest. The new cemetery will honour the exact positioning of the original remains."

Thanks to TrishO for bringing this Ghost Lake to my attention!