It could be they wanted to protect places they held sacred. It seems the settlers at the time had no regard for any heathen or Pagan beliefs and would build over it.
Burial areas would be dug up and moved with no regards to the spirit world. This still goes on today as many developers want to put a strip mall on once pristine land.
That is why I think many of these areas have curses on them. I don't think it was malicious, but just a way for them to protect sacred spaces.