White Clay Creek Church Cemetery in Newark, Delaware It seems it is human nature to except the given doctrine of experts, regarding any specific discipline. Unfortunately, it is often too late before we realize that there are many solutions to nearly every problem. Often it is not the excepted solution which provides the only or best answer to solve any specific problem. The following topic is…
The following are the most common stone types found in American Graveyards, based on the order they were predominately used. Slate: 1650-1900 - Metamorphosis Shale The earliest stone used extensively in American gravestones. The Boston, MA area was the hub of American gravestone carving activity, from approximately 1660 – 1800. Luckily there was a supply of very high quality slate to carve into…
Throughout the history of time, civilized cultures have prospered, and built great monuments to remember their leaders. Unfortunately many great works of art have been destroyed by wars, fires, earthquakes, and the ravages of time. The fewer historic icons exist, the more valuable those remaining become. We must foster new interest and respect, from the general public, in order to protect our…
A large percentage of the stones found in cemeteries, burying grounds, and graveyards are in an advanced state of decay. Many factors combined together contribute to this degraded condition. Acid rain and localized pollution occur, along with the elements of nature, to greatly increase the speed at which many landmarks are being defaced or lost altogether. Land development has also infringed on…
When planning a gravestone conservation project, it is a good idea to conduct some form of a survey to look over the stones conditions. This may be as informal and basic as a walk through the graveyard, or as complex as an individual gravestone and monument assessment survey form to inventory each stone. Obviously, the funds available are a huge factor in deciding how to move forward. The most…
The word gravestone can imply varying things to different people. Pertaining to the process of gravestone resetting, we are describing a one piece tablet stone. One piece tablets are monolithic, and are installed as setting them partially underground. The above ground section of stone, which we normally see, may be only one half of the gravestone total size. Although resetting is not considered a…
All modern monuments should be installed on a solid concrete foundation. The foundation should be dug as deep as the frost line, depending on the locale. This would be about the same depth footings that is dug for residential construction. In the Northeast, this means footings should be at least 42 inches or more. The funny thing about a foundation is that once it is poured, you can only see the…
Many monuments constructed historically included metal pinning to fasten sections together. The Romans sometimes tied together masonry with bronze clamps to strengthen the joints, and to prevent a structural failure. So when multiple piece monuments became more popular than the typical colonial gravestone during the middle of the 1800’s, metal was again employed. Unfortunately, many of the pins…
Numerous factors can contribute to cause the breakage of a gravestone, monument, or sculpture. The press loves to focus on the deplorable acts of vandalism, which from time to time, may damage a local cemetery or graveyard. Yet these occasional rampages are not the leading cause of broken gravestones. It is next to impossible to protect an open air museum, such as a burying ground, from all the…
In the process of conserving a gravestone, it may become necessary to add infill, to replace or crumbling stone. Infill refers to a mix formulated to fill a void or gap, in masonry, and ideally to have it blend in with the rest of the stone, or substrate. Infill of various types has been used since antiquities to restore damaged sculpture, gravestones or masonry structures. Unfortunately few…
Historically numerous substances have been used, in an attempt to make stones last longer when placed outdoors. Olive oil, whale oil, turpentine, and wax represent just a few of the liquids applied to masonry in a mostly vain effort to inhibit the future deterioration of stone. When epoxy and fiberglass resins were invented in the mid-1900s, they were at first thought, to be ideal alternatives to…
Old Fredericktown Cemetery in Fredericktown, Ohio. The 48 State Tour, 2020. Numerous factors can contribute to cause the breakage of a gravestone, monument, or sculpture. The press loves to focus on the deplorable acts of vandalism, which from time to time, may damage a local cemetery or graveyard. Yet these occasional rampages are not the leading cause of broken gravestones. It is next to…
Modern granite monuments are usually constructed from two pieces of granite. The upper headstone section, or die, sits on top of a base stone. The die and base are joined together with monument setting compound, (suppliers list). This compound is similar in texture to window glazing putty, or a very thick dough. Unfortunately it does not provide for structural support, but is designed to fill a…
The precise historical origins of Portland Cement are very complex and beyond the scope of this abstract, however its beginnings can be traced back into the late 1700s. It was not until 1878, that a standard on Portland cement was issued by the Association of German Cement Manufacturers. In the following two decades, to the turn of the 19th century, increasingly large quantities of Portland Cement…
It is commonly believed that if an object or structure is simply protected from the outdoor elements that it will then be preserved forever. Unfortunately this is only partially true, as there are multiple factors that can contribute to the breakdown and decay of nearly everything built by humans. Once a rock gets cut, carved, tooled, chiseled or otherwise worked in some manner it is then referred…