A few of the larger cemeteries have modern staffed offices with a mailing address, phone number, computers, digitized records, or web sites. Individual cemetery information is shown on our township pages. Most cemeteries have signs, are visible from the main nearby road, at a crossroads of two or more roads, and are often visible in satellite photos on Google maps linked from each cemetery.
Reading Stones on CCUS, Cemetery Conservators for United Standards, shows various Do No Harm Methods for Reading Grave Markers. Foil Casting is one easy and harmless method you can use to read hard to decipher tombstones. Using aluminum foil instead of chalk rubbings to read old tombstones with photos discussed February 4, 2017 on Grave Topics: Cemetery Art, History of Facebook.
With Memorial Day coming upon us you may notice coins left upon headstones of veterans. Do you know what each of these coins represents?#memorialday#memorialdayweekend#military
In 1933, a family was reunited when one brother left a note at their mother's grave! The Mickey children had been separated following their mother's death in 1911. Twenty-two years later, Francis (who had been a baby at the time of the separation) left a note at her grave asking anyone who knew the family to contact him.
A neighbor of one of his sisters found the note, and on Christmas Day Francis and 2 of his siblings were reunited, with more of the siblings reunited in in the following days.
DO NO HARM! If you don't know what you are doing, research the proper methods from many sources before doing anything. Different stones require different methods to prevent permanent damage. Newer granite stones may tolerate mistakes that will permanently damage older soft stones possibly making them illegible for future researchers when new technologies could resolve current legibility issues.
Caring and cleaning headstones isn't a one-size-fits all endeavor. Is it made of sandstone, limestone, slate, marble, or something else? Lots of factors go into doing the job right. Watch this video to learn from a professional restorationist:
"Those Who Have Gone Before:" Headstone Restorationist Casey Winningham | The INbox by WTIU & WFIU - Indiana Public Media posted June 18, 2019 by on YouTube For more than 10 years, Casey Winningham has been carving, restoring and recreating old headstones, all by hand. Casey is one of a handful of people around the country using the hammer-and-chisel method, and here he walks us through his process and shares the reasons behind his work.
At the 2:30 mark he states: I tell people, if you're using anything in the cemetery that you can buy at the hardware store, it's the wrong stuff. [ BTW Casey Winningham is an Indiana stone carver and headstone restorationest ]
DO NO HARM! If you don't know what you are doing, research the proper methods from many sources before doing anything.
Notice they restored the tombstone to a gravel base, NOT concrete. Also he does NOT recommend over the counter products like Wet-N-Forget as some sources do!
Watch as I demonstrate how we clean a headstone here at Historic Sugar Grove Cemetery. When in doubt, it is better to do nothing than risk doing damage. Please reach out if you would like to see more or come out to get hands on experience!
Watch as I demonstrate how we clean a headstone here at Historic Sugar Grove Cemetery. When in doubt, it is better to do nothing than risk doing damage. Please reach out if you would like to see more or come out to get hands on experience!
As one commment noted: It is important to mention that the marker in this video is granite. Generally speaking, the methodology featured here using a stiff bristled brush with so much repeated scrubbing is NOT recommended on marble, sandstone, slate, and most other historic gravestones.
A
September 17, 2023 post by
Historic Archaeological Research no longer on Facebook: [ https://www.har-indy.com/ ]
Let’s Talk Funding for Pioneer Cemetery Restoration
We typically get quite a few requests from folks looking for funds to undertake restoration efforts, and this month has been no exception so I’m sharing this article again.
A major hurdle of cemeteries that have fallen into poor condition is the funding necessary to make repairs to damaged monuments and to restore the property to a more respectful appearance. Many older cemeteries that are no longer accepting burials often run out of money for perpetual care. Without any source of ongoing income, endowments may become exhausted and, with no means left to foot the bill for maintaining the property, a cemetery may be considered abandoned and ultimately deeded to the township or other municipal body. This can be problematic if a township does not have the tax revenue necessary to allocate monies that will support much more than occasional mowing.
Gravestones that have toppled and or are broken are not only unsightly but leave relatives of the deceased and cemetery visitors with a poor impression of the property and its managers. There may also be hazards when larger or taller tombstones become unlevel and are in danger of falling. Routine maintenance of 19th and early 20th century cemetery monuments is essential in keeping the property in good order and safe for site visitors. Professional restoration of gravestones that have fallen and or are broken can be expensive. Current cemetery stewards may not have the funds or the knowledge and wherewithal to make proper repairs.
So, let’s begin a discussion of alternate sources of funding for cemetery repair and restoration. A few ideas to generate significant income over a several year period for annually recurring restoration efforts will be listed here, but there may be many other sources.
Historic preservation grants may be available to augment annual allocations by the trustee or cemetery association. State grants typically require equal matching funds, and some types may require sponsorship by a non-for-profit organization. It is generally necessary to apply for grants well in advance of the need for the funds.
Historic preservation and civic groups may also provide small grants or matching funds for cemetery restoration efforts. This might include state and local historical and genealogical societies, or other local clubs and community organizations.
Most cemeteries have military veteran interments. The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Sons and Daughters of the Revolution (SAR & DAR) organizations may be willing to support restoration plans with contributions
Relatives of the deceased who want to make annual endowments or contributions should be explored. Making the public aware or the work being accomplished thorough newspapers articles and social media may stimulate contributions from relatives and other civic minded individuals, organizations, or local businesses.
In some cases, there may be sizeable apparently vacant areas in a previously abandoned cemetery and some states permit reactivation and sale of new grave plots by township trustees. Property adjacent to a cemetery may become available and an annex including new lots for sale and use may be created as well. Often there are relatives who want to buy plots in a cemetery where they have kin, and this is sometimes the impetus for reactivation. Obviously, the sale of new plots is money found that may be used in the perpetual care of a cemetery.
There are certainly many more potential sources for fundraising. Flea market or community garage sales, bake sales, pancake, and chili dinners, etc. are just a few more potential sources of income derived by a community that could be used in a continuing cemetery restoration project. Use your imagination.
