188 WASHINGTON STREET

ON AUGUST 15, 2008 THE MOHGEAN PEOPLE HAD A CEREMONY FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE MEMORIAL TO UNCAS" MONUMENT, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT REPORTED BY THE MEDIA HAPPENED. ACCORDING TO A SPIRITUAL PERSON IN THE TRIBE, HE TOLD THE REPORTERS AFTER THE CEREMONY THAT HE WOULD NOT BE HAPPY UNTIL THE TRIBE GOT BACK ALL THE 16 ACRES OF THE ROYAL BURIAL GROUND. THE BURIAL GROUND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WASHINGTON AVENUE TO THE CHURCH (ABOUT 3 BLOCKS.)

IN MY OPINION THE MASONIC TEMPLE HAD BEEN TORN DOWN FOR TWO REASONS: 1) TO RIGHT A WRONG THAT HAD HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO AS WITNESSED BY TRIBAL MEDICINE WOMAN EMMA T. BAKER AND 2) THE MASONIC TEMPLE WAS IN SO DISREPAIR THAT IT WAS CHEAPER TO TEAR IT DOWN. IT WAS REPORTED THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE COST TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS TO GET IT TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD BE USED AS EITHER A MUSEUM OR ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURAL CENTER OF SOME SORT.

NOW TO THE STORY OF 188 WASHINGTON STREET. THIS HOUSE IS ON THE SOUTH EAST CORNER DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE MEMORIAL. THE TRIBE PURCHASED IT MAY 2, 2000 FOR $250,000.00 (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. ) THE TRIBE SPENT $7,000.00 (SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. THE TRIBE SOLD THE PROPERTY TO KAREN C. STOPFORD ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2004 FOR $240,000.00 (TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.) THE PROPERTY HAS NET TOTAL APPRAISED PARCEL VALUE OF $340,000.00 (THREE HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT ASSESSORS RECORDS.

THIS HOUSE WAS PART OF THE MOHEGAN ROYAL BURIAL GROUND. COULD IT BE THAT IT WAS SOLD BECAUSE IT WAS A HISTORIC HOUSE AND THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO FIGHT TO HAVE IT TORN DOWN? COULD IT BE THAT THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO GO UP AGAINST THE CITY OF NORWICH ABOUT THIS? DO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAST TRIBAL COUNCIL
WANT TO COMMENT? DOES ANYONE WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRIBAL COUNCIL DID NOT KNOW IT WAS PART OF THE ROYAL MOHEGAN BURIAL GROUND?

I DO NOT KNOW IF THE SPIRITUAL MAN IS RIGHT OR WRONG. WHAT IS EVIDENT TO ME IS WE OWNED PART OF THE MOHEGAN ROYAL BURIAL GROUND AND WE SOLD IT. READERS, PLEASE COMMENT?