Read Board: State: North Carolina
City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Mar 18, 2026 7:00am
I'm just going to post the whole email I got rather than try to summarize it, but sounds like it's time to start removing your boxes from the cemeteries in New Bern.
I'll start deleting/retiring the boxes, but it sounds like there are quite a large number of them so it'll likely take me a bit of time. If you have boxes in them, though, please delete/retire your boxes to save me the effort. Thanks!
-- Ryan
I'll start deleting/retiring the boxes, but it sounds like there are quite a large number of them so it'll likely take me a bit of time. If you have boxes in them, though, please delete/retire your boxes to save me the effort. Thanks!
-- Ryan
Mr. Carpenter,
The City of New Bern has received several complaints regarding Letterboxes listed on at least one or more of your websites, including, but not limited to AtlasQuest.com and Letterboxing.org directing trackers to grave sites in Cedar Grove Cemetery, and potentially other city-owned cemeteries such as New Bern Memorial, Greenwood, and Evergreen Cemeteries.
Cedar Grove Cemetery and the other city cemeteries are historic burial grounds and the final resting places for many individuals whose graves are fragile and easily damaged. The city has become aware that containers, pouches, or other items associated with Letterboxing activities have been placed at, in, or on gravesites within these cemeteries and that participants may be directed through instructions to retrieve or interact with certain items on sacred gravesites. It has been reported that letterboxes are being retrieved by defacing grave sites by removing dirt, stones, bricks, copings, and more from grave sites. We have also been made aware that participants may have trespassed on city property by accessing the clues when our cemeteries are closed to the public.
The city must ensure that all activity within cemeteries respects the dignity of these sites and does not disturb the graves, monuments, or surrounding materials. Activities that require participants to search for, retrieve, or manipulate objects at gravesites create a risk of damage to historic graves and present potential safety concerns.
Furthermore, City ordinance provides that the city does not permit activities that disturb graves, monuments, or surrounding materials. Disturbing, climbing on or stepping on gravesites can be considered vandalism and may constitute property damage. We do not tolerate reckless activity that disturbs the peace of our cemeteries.
One of your websites lists over 70 letterboxes in Cedar Grove Cemetery alone. Accordingly, the City of New Bern requests that your members remove all containers, pouches, or similar items located within City-owned cemeteries, including Cedar Grove Cemetery. We also request that any locations within City of New Bern Cemetery and other city cemeteries be deactivated immediately on your websites so that participants are not directed to these locations in the future. Warning Signs are posted at all cemeteries. If trackers are caught defacing gravesites, they will be subject to legal action to the fullest extent allowed by the City of New Bern code of ordinances and North Carolina General Statutes.
The city values historical interpretation and educational efforts related to Cedar Grove Cemetery and would welcome discussion of alternative ways to share historical information about individuals buried there that do not involve physical interaction with gravesites. Please contact Kari Warren, Director of Parks and Recreation, at (252) 639-2902 to discuss possible alternatives.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your cooperation in helping preserve and protect these historic burial grounds. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this email or the number listed below.
The City of New Bern has received several complaints regarding Letterboxes listed on at least one or more of your websites, including, but not limited to AtlasQuest.com and Letterboxing.org directing trackers to grave sites in Cedar Grove Cemetery, and potentially other city-owned cemeteries such as New Bern Memorial, Greenwood, and Evergreen Cemeteries.
Cedar Grove Cemetery and the other city cemeteries are historic burial grounds and the final resting places for many individuals whose graves are fragile and easily damaged. The city has become aware that containers, pouches, or other items associated with Letterboxing activities have been placed at, in, or on gravesites within these cemeteries and that participants may be directed through instructions to retrieve or interact with certain items on sacred gravesites. It has been reported that letterboxes are being retrieved by defacing grave sites by removing dirt, stones, bricks, copings, and more from grave sites. We have also been made aware that participants may have trespassed on city property by accessing the clues when our cemeteries are closed to the public.
The city must ensure that all activity within cemeteries respects the dignity of these sites and does not disturb the graves, monuments, or surrounding materials. Activities that require participants to search for, retrieve, or manipulate objects at gravesites create a risk of damage to historic graves and present potential safety concerns.
Furthermore, City ordinance provides that the city does not permit activities that disturb graves, monuments, or surrounding materials. Disturbing, climbing on or stepping on gravesites can be considered vandalism and may constitute property damage. We do not tolerate reckless activity that disturbs the peace of our cemeteries.
One of your websites lists over 70 letterboxes in Cedar Grove Cemetery alone. Accordingly, the City of New Bern requests that your members remove all containers, pouches, or similar items located within City-owned cemeteries, including Cedar Grove Cemetery. We also request that any locations within City of New Bern Cemetery and other city cemeteries be deactivated immediately on your websites so that participants are not directed to these locations in the future. Warning Signs are posted at all cemeteries. If trackers are caught defacing gravesites, they will be subject to legal action to the fullest extent allowed by the City of New Bern code of ordinances and North Carolina General Statutes.
The city values historical interpretation and educational efforts related to Cedar Grove Cemetery and would welcome discussion of alternative ways to share historical information about individuals buried there that do not involve physical interaction with gravesites. Please contact Kari Warren, Director of Parks and Recreation, at (252) 639-2902 to discuss possible alternatives.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your cooperation in helping preserve and protect these historic burial grounds. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this email or the number listed below.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Mar 18, 2026 8:25am
By a strange coincidence, I was reading the "Guidelines For Cemeteries" thread from 2023, just yesterday (strictly for entertainment purposes only!).
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Mar 18, 2026 9:42am
It is interesting how the city became aware and suddenly wants the boxes gone after McGinnis Again stopped working there and moved out of town merely a few days ago.
SUGGESTION -- If somebody could go to New Bern, search for the cemetery boxes, and remove them, that could clean up the cemetery and salvage the letterboxes. Plus, it would be a day or weekend of lots of interesting finds because McGinnis Again researched a lot when carving and planting her letterboxes. If course, you would have to search for retired boxes.
SUGGESTION -- If somebody could go to New Bern, search for the cemetery boxes, and remove them, that could clean up the cemetery and salvage the letterboxes. Plus, it would be a day or weekend of lots of interesting finds because McGinnis Again researched a lot when carving and planting her letterboxes. If course, you would have to search for retired boxes.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Mar 18, 2026 3:45pm
As avid tapophiles, we have many cemetery plants. Number one rule is to never plant a box under, around, or even close to a grave marker! (unless it's a family member or explicit permission is obtained).
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044377 by RDHG
Mar 18, 2026 3:46pm
I might could go this weekend and retrieve
City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044382 by the pink dragon
Mar 18, 2026 4:54pm
That would be very cool, tpd.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Mar 19, 2026 4:50am
There is a pre-Revolutionary War cemetery here in downtown Norfolk VA, and it’s such a beautifully historical treasure that I deem necessary to encourage visiting, but planting a box there would just be… well, I don’t even know the right word, but you get my drift. I fear some letterboxers (few, I hope) overlook locations for finds sometimes anyway, so I’m hoping to create a puzzle that requires people to respectfully visit and experience this site in order to decode the location of a box planted nearby, in a less hallowed & historically valuable spot.
I wish I could help you in your great task to remove so many boxes from New Bern. I know the city of Suffolk, VA has stated similar concerns and enforcements for their city cemeteries. I’m sure there are many others as well, so besides being a call for help & note to your locals, your post is a good reminder to all of us that, even if we as planters are considerate & respectful of locations, sometimes searchers are not, especially if they misinterpret clues and go digging in places they shouldn’t; and in turn, a reminder to searchers who haven’t been so mindful in the past to do so going forward.
I wish I could help you in your great task to remove so many boxes from New Bern. I know the city of Suffolk, VA has stated similar concerns and enforcements for their city cemeteries. I’m sure there are many others as well, so besides being a call for help & note to your locals, your post is a good reminder to all of us that, even if we as planters are considerate & respectful of locations, sometimes searchers are not, especially if they misinterpret clues and go digging in places they shouldn’t; and in turn, a reminder to searchers who haven’t been so mindful in the past to do so going forward.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Mar 19, 2026 5:56am
Here's a thought:
Maybe don't hide dozens (or even hundreds) of boxes in one cemetery!
A single box can be a tour around a cemetery and show off the history, if someone is interested, but not have the extreme traffic and damage that the "Must hurry to stamp everything!" Mentality can cause.
I refuse to visit that famous letterboxing cemetery in Ohio (or that part of the country) for exactly this reason.
Maybe don't hide dozens (or even hundreds) of boxes in one cemetery!
A single box can be a tour around a cemetery and show off the history, if someone is interested, but not have the extreme traffic and damage that the "Must hurry to stamp everything!" Mentality can cause.
I refuse to visit that famous letterboxing cemetery in Ohio (or that part of the country) for exactly this reason.
Cleveland's Farmers Market Event - March 28
Board: State: North Carolina
Mar 19, 2026 10:01am
I just added the last bit of details to the event page, but wanted to share here too.
CLEVELAND'S FARMERS MARKET
Cleveland City Park, Cleveland NC
March 28, 2026 - 10am-4pm
Event box, tabletop boxes, HIPS boxes, multiple series around the park, some around downtown, seed/plant swap (with over 1000 seed packets donated from the Second Harvest Food Bank), raffle, farmers market items such as tallow lotions, salves, jellies and other handmade items, and dinner at the local Pizzeria!
Event starts at 10am and we'll be handing out clue sheets when you arrive! Hope to see you all there!
CLEVELAND'S FARMERS MARKET
Cleveland City Park, Cleveland NC
March 28, 2026 - 10am-4pm
Event box, tabletop boxes, HIPS boxes, multiple series around the park, some around downtown, seed/plant swap (with over 1000 seed packets donated from the Second Harvest Food Bank), raffle, farmers market items such as tallow lotions, salves, jellies and other handmade items, and dinner at the local Pizzeria!
Event starts at 10am and we'll be handing out clue sheets when you arrive! Hope to see you all there!
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044393 by RIclimber
Mar 19, 2026 11:01am
I find myself disappointed in some of the reactions here. What has happened to the supportive group that used to offer sympathy and help to fellow boxers? No one deliberately planted there knowing there were rules against it. Given the examples from around the country of many boxes planted in one location, including cemeteries, why wouldn't boxers - several, not just one - have thought that was an acceptable example to follow?
The people who planted boxes there undoubtedly feel bad enough already, and are doing what they can to handle the problem. They don't need judgement; they need understanding and help from fellow boxers who may have made a less than ideal choice or two along the way. If you haven't, good for you, but consider giving others a little grace.
Many thanks to those who have offered to travel there to remove boxes. I am willing to help as well - please contact me if my help is needed.
The people who planted boxes there undoubtedly feel bad enough already, and are doing what they can to handle the problem. They don't need judgement; they need understanding and help from fellow boxers who may have made a less than ideal choice or two along the way. If you haven't, good for you, but consider giving others a little grace.
Many thanks to those who have offered to travel there to remove boxes. I am willing to help as well - please contact me if my help is needed.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044397 by Frankie and Benjy
Mar 19, 2026 12:43pm
No one deliberately planted there knowing there were rules against it.
Maybe the issue isn't just that it's against the rules. One also needs to use common sense. I'm not passing judgement as I have not visited that particular cemetery. But speaking broadly, that seems like an unusually high concentration of boxes in a spot that one would expect a little reverence be paid.
I have no problem with cemetery boxes in general but, again, use common sense. Here's part of the clues to one of the last cemetery boxes we visited:
Once in the upper cemetery...
Turn 90 degrees to your right and look for a rock wall surrounding an old, unmarked grave.
You’ll find the ******* Letterbox under the middle stone on the south wall.
Turn 90 degrees to your right and look for a rock wall surrounding an old, unmarked grave.
You’ll find the ******* Letterbox under the middle stone on the south wall.
Guess how much of that old stone wall was left? This was at an historic spot too.
A hide placement can be 'not against the rules' and still be not wise.
Again, my remarks are about graveyard hides in general and not New Bern specifically.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044398 by DarkZen and Evil Cow Pie
Mar 19, 2026 1:32pm
Maybe don't hide dozens (or even hundreds) of boxes in one cemetery!
This doesn't just happen in cemeteries - there is a park near me that is not that big - town owned and someone planted 180 boxes in there... I had just moved across the street and was looking forward to putting a small series in there - now it's not possible.
No location - historic or otherwise can support/sustain hundreds of boxes. IMO
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044398 by DarkZen and Evil Cow Pie
Mar 19, 2026 4:00pm
I’m a huge fan of graveyard boxes but in my experience there haven’t been that huge of a concentration in the ones I’ve been to. Maybe it’s because there are so many in TX or they weren’t deemed important enough (most are small and from pioneer days), but it’s unusual for there to be more than 3-4 active ones and that’s in a huge cemetery in Dallas. I’ve also not experienced ones that required interaction with monuments or stones in more than a directional or milestone capacity.
As an end of life doula I enjoy and respect being in the places of rest, so while I enjoy boxing in cemeteries and am careful and humble, I know not everyone is and cannot imagine that many boxes being searched for en masse. It really does seem excessive.
My question is, are all of these active boxes? Or were some already retired or missing and a search just turned up all those as well? I’m still new to the site so sometimes I have to fiddle with the search.
As an end of life doula I enjoy and respect being in the places of rest, so while I enjoy boxing in cemeteries and am careful and humble, I know not everyone is and cannot imagine that many boxes being searched for en masse. It really does seem excessive.
My question is, are all of these active boxes? Or were some already retired or missing and a search just turned up all those as well? I’m still new to the site so sometimes I have to fiddle with the search.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044397 by Frankie and Benjy
Mar 19, 2026 4:40pm
No one deliberately planted there knowing there were rules against it.
There probably wasn't any rules against it... until a couple hundred were placed and started causing problems!
Up here a large park allowed caching for 20+ years. Then someone hid hundreds of caches all at once. The increase in traffic (among other things related to that) got caching banned in that area completely and permanently.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044400 by mudflinginfools
Mar 19, 2026 7:24pm
there is a park near me that is not that big - town owned and someone planted 180 boxes in there
Wow! I thought planting a 40 box series in a 1500 acre park was overdoing it! It brought the park up to about 60 boxes. Now I don't feel so bad.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044393 by RIclimber
Mar 20, 2026 10:23pm
There's more than one cemetery in Ohio with hundreds of boxes and most of the groundskeepers know about them and actually replace them when they find them. They are welcomed there. If you don’t want to enjoy these amazing cemeteries or their hidden charms, then don't. I personally love boxing in Ohio's Cemeteries, as I do in every State. I've been to New Bern area 3 times since McGinnisAGAIN moved there and began planting. She has made it an extra enjoyable area with the deep research she does and the wonderful history she reveals with each of her plants. To be making negative comments about places you've never seen or experienced is ridiculous!! And I'm surprised that a simple request from Ryan to remove all boxes from New Bern Cemetery would bring any other response other than "how can I help?"
If I were not still recovering from recent surgery, I'd fly out & get some friends to help me retrieve all these boxes that seem to be doing more harm than the neighborhood school children that I've personally witnessed climbing all over the rock walls and flat roofed tombs at that specific Cemetery. Please don’t make other letterboxers feel bad - just be nice & help them instead. Thank you to anyone who can help remove boxes from these Cemeteries.
If I were not still recovering from recent surgery, I'd fly out & get some friends to help me retrieve all these boxes that seem to be doing more harm than the neighborhood school children that I've personally witnessed climbing all over the rock walls and flat roofed tombs at that specific Cemetery. Please don’t make other letterboxers feel bad - just be nice & help them instead. Thank you to anyone who can help remove boxes from these Cemeteries.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044397 by Frankie and Benjy
Mar 21, 2026 1:22am
Thank you for your comments, very well said & appreciated!!
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044450 by LCAB
Mar 21, 2026 10:12pm
Very well said! I have/had a series of 3 planted at Cedar Grove. I noticed it's been marked impossible. Oh well.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044398 by DarkZen and Evil Cow Pie
Mar 22, 2026 2:42pm
The Pink Dragon and I made a girls' weekend of it and recovered all that we could find in all New Bern cemeteries. I have marked all we couldn't find as missing. We left a public message on all we recovered. TPD has them all and owners should contact her for return arrangements.
While pulling boxes yesterday, a delightful woman named Helen approached us and asked if we were letterboxers. She works with an organization that helps preserve these historic places and also gives tours within the cemetery. She showed us the grave that started it all. She informed us that organizations like hers are spending thousands of dollars to repair not only graves, but the brick and stone walls in these cemeteries. She personally had no issues with LBs in bushes and trees. However, since these were most often covered with bricks, we recovered those as well, returning the bricks to the nearby walls or graves.
Helen was very impressed by the extensive history included in these particular clues. Then she shared how much fun she and her husband had finding over 60 stamps the previous day. She had seen us poking around from her kitchen window and invited us back to her beautiful home where she had all of the stamps in a bucket. She was hoping to find a way to get them back to the owners.
Before leaving to look for any remaining LBs, she gave us bottles of water and told us to come back to her home if we needed a restroom.
Truly, Helen is a hero for saving all those stamps. She enjoyed it some much, she will likely continue to hunt. I said her trail name should be The Rescuer.
TPD and I have her name and address and plan to send her a thank you notes with some LB love. If anyone would like to do the same, you can PM me for her info.
While pulling boxes yesterday, a delightful woman named Helen approached us and asked if we were letterboxers. She works with an organization that helps preserve these historic places and also gives tours within the cemetery. She showed us the grave that started it all. She informed us that organizations like hers are spending thousands of dollars to repair not only graves, but the brick and stone walls in these cemeteries. She personally had no issues with LBs in bushes and trees. However, since these were most often covered with bricks, we recovered those as well, returning the bricks to the nearby walls or graves.
Helen was very impressed by the extensive history included in these particular clues. Then she shared how much fun she and her husband had finding over 60 stamps the previous day. She had seen us poking around from her kitchen window and invited us back to her beautiful home where she had all of the stamps in a bucket. She was hoping to find a way to get them back to the owners.
Before leaving to look for any remaining LBs, she gave us bottles of water and told us to come back to her home if we needed a restroom.
Truly, Helen is a hero for saving all those stamps. She enjoyed it some much, she will likely continue to hunt. I said her trail name should be The Rescuer.
TPD and I have her name and address and plan to send her a thank you notes with some LB love. If anyone would like to do the same, you can PM me for her info.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044492 by Casa del Sol
Mar 22, 2026 2:57pm
Great job!! And props to Helen also for sure!
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044492 by Casa del Sol
Mar 22, 2026 3:00pm
Thank you both so much for recovering the boxes.
Stampeaz supplies in NC
Board: State: North Carolina
Mar 25, 2026 7:21pm
We're down here and will be at the event on Saturday at 10 am. I have a small crate with me of the salvaged Stampeaz supplies. We will probably not be at the dinner that night, so reach out that morning.
Re: Stampeaz supplies in NC
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044557 by koalacat
Mar 29, 2026 5:35am
Thank you so much again for bringing this to the event, it was very much appreciated!
The dust has settled...
Board: State: North Carolina
Mar 29, 2026 10:40am
Just want to say THANK YOU to everyone that came out to our little Town of Cleveland for the Farmers Market event yesterday. For my first hosted event, it was a lot of work, but turned out well worth it... even our Town Mayor made an appearance! It was awesome meeting everyone and I had lots of compliments on the carves, raffle goodies, baked goods, and skin care items! You all are awesome!! Hope everyone made it home safe and all the listings are now active (sorry, forgot to publish them all yesterday, lol).
Re: The dust has settled...
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044594 by PeachysaurusRex
Mar 29, 2026 6:21pm
It was a fantastic event, so glad I got to attend.
Re: The dust has settled...
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044594 by PeachysaurusRex
Mar 29, 2026 7:32pm
It was a super fun event - you did a great job hosting! All your stamps were amazing and I loved that the Mayor showed up! Looking forward to your next event - barn quilts??? That would be a great idea - just saying!
Re: Stampeaz supplies in NC
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044592 by thepapermagpie
Mar 29, 2026 8:04pm
You're welcome! It was nice to meet and exchange with you, too.
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044450 by LCAB
Mar 30, 2026 5:55pm
Well said my friend… well said!
Re: City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044492 by Casa del Sol
Mar 31, 2026 5:39pm
It's a wonderful thing you ladies did - Thank you for helping save these letterboxes!!
City of New Bern, NC - Letterbox Complaints
Board: State: North Carolina
Reply to: #1044372 by Green Tortuga
Apr 1, 2026 4:12pm
When I travel internationally old historic cemeteries are my favorite places to hide a box. Not only are they interesting to wander through but many have areas that can easily hide a box for decades without being muggled. As a matter of fact I was just looking at cemeteries in Chile and Bolivia for my upcoming vacation. But I agree, 70 boxes in one cemetery is way too many.
