Cemetery Update -- Cleaning Stones

I have had a busy week, mostly putting the final touches on the first leg of my "Boones in Oregon" project. I am looking at a variety of solutions for putting this up on a web page. But more about that project another day.

Last weekend we went to Portland to attend a morning class at Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery in how to clean grave markers. Since it is summer in Oregon, the day was overcast, breezy and none to warm. We also had a group of young adults from Central Catholic High School -- almost 40 of them. Becky and Steve (from Friends of Lone Fir) were giving the class, and I don't think they expected all of them, but they graciously carried on, and the students appeared to be enjoying themselves.

First of all, do no harm! That means that if the stone is badly cracked or stone is flaking off, don't touch it! You will need to consult someone more knowledgeable about stone preservation. However, if the stone is in reasonably good condition and just dirty, you can proceed.

You will need

• LOTS of water. If a hose isn't available, you will need several buckets of water.
• Brushes -- natural bristles are best, although soft nylon ones are OK. A large one for large areas, toothbrushes for small areas
• Wooden utensils such as chopsticks, paint sticks, and so on. Never use metal of any kind around the stones
• For stones badly stained with lichens, you will need an non-ionic solution such as Photo-flo. Basically, an ionic solution (such as salt and water) conducts electricity, a non-ionic solution (sugar and water) does not. It makes water "wetter", but doesn't harm the stones.
• Miscellaneous small things like cotton puffs, Q-Tips, clean rags.

To begin, wet the stone and your tools. Never, ever work on a dry stone. You want to really soak the area you will be working on, giving the stone a few minutes to absorb the water.

Next, using your wooden tools, remove any accumulations of moss and dirt, working slowly and very carefully. If stone seems to be flaking, STOP! and get professional advice before proceeding.

Then, using a wet brush, continue cleaning the stone. Make sure you keep the stone continuously wet.

When you have removed all the dirt you can, you can work on the lichens with Photo-flo. Mix up a solution of 1 or 2 teaspoons of Photo-flo to a gallon of water. Using a cotton ball or Q-tip, apply the solution sparingly to stained areas that are already wet. Wait for 5 minutes or so, and rinse thoroughly. You may have to repeat this several times.

The reward is a clean marker. The old white marble markers begin to look brand new very quickly. We uncovered a truly unique marker under layers of moss, dirt and grime: the grave of a 5 year old girl, it was the shape of a child-sized coffin with a very ornate cross in raised stone on the top, and an inscription running all around the edges. No one had seen the pattern in years, and now it will be a very special place again.

So, go carefully. And remember, unless it is the grave of a family member, it doesn't belong to you. Always get permission from the cemetery staff or the family before working on a stone.

Another post on cemeteries

Saving our past is important to most genealogists. And part of that past is the memorials erected to preserve the memory of those who have gone on before. As we approach Memorial Day, many of us will be going to decorate the resting places of our ancestors, especially those who fought for us and our freedoms.

If you visit a cemetery, take a look around you. Are the grounds well kept? I don't mean park-like, but the blackberries and poison oak should not be threatening to swallow either the living or the dead. Vandalism is unfortunately an all too common experience, but has some effort been made to put grave markers back or repair them? Is there a map posted, with the burial plots marked as to who is where?

If these conditions aren't what you would like to see, what are you doing about it? It costs money and/or time to keep up a cemetery. Ideally it would be fenced to keep out at least some of the vandals, the weeds would be held back, the stones and/or a map would be readable. Each and every one of things is achievable.

Do you live close enough to come over and take a WeedEater (TM) to the margins of the area? If you don't have the physical means to do this, can you contribute a small amount of money to hire some one to do this? Has the cemetery been mapped? Who has the books or other records? Can you borrow or copy them to make a map? Maybe the owner of the records would allow you to post the list of burials on the internet.

Posting on the internet is a very simple process. These links will take you to the USGenWeb pages on cemetery preservation. All of the information on USGenWeb is free to everyone. It is also mostly in a plain text format, so you don't need fancy tools to post it. The Tombstone Transcription Project is explained here and state projects here.

Does your cemetery have an association dedicated to its preservation? Can you join it or support it? Do you need to start a "Friends of the ___ Cemetery" association? Check out this link for state cemetery associations: Tombstones with a View .

Now, on to individual tombstones. Stones are not indestructible, and using the wrong technique to clean them can result in permanent damage. Most of us should not undertake to "clean up" stones or other markers without expert advice. The older the marker, the more hesitant we should be. About.com has a page of links on cleaning stones. In the main, refrain from using anything on the stones that you would not be willing to use on your most sensitive body parts .

To record stones, first write down all of the information on the stone, exactly as it appears. Misspellings and all -- just an exact transcription. For each stone, record its location in the cemetery (from a map if you are lucky enough to have one, otherwise from landmarks like a large family monument). Bring a camera (digital is really best, as you can view the picture and make sure it is clear). DO NOT take rubbings -- these can be quite destructive. The use of shaving cream is also controversial, and I do not recommend it. Instead, bring a large mirror, a battery lantern and a friend, and throw light from the mirror onto the stone to bring out the lettering.

The Texas Historical Commission has produced an excellent e-book on preserving old cemeteries. Some of the laws and regulations are specific to Texas, but the sections on preserving and cleaning stones, and preserving and maintaining cemeteries are applicable almost anywhere. Above all, enjoy the day! Remembering should bring a song to our hearts -- our memories carry the past and its people forward to now -- and beyond!