Cemetery Restoration Workshop Complete - Part 2

One of the Main projects of the Cemetery Restoration Workshop was restoring a unique gravesite belonging to Mollie Ophella Napier, daughter of William D. Napier & Annie M. "Haley" Napier.  Mollie died September 29, 1884, at 1 year, 10 months, and 2 Days.  What makes this "small project” unique is that it’s made of 5 pieces of marble. This one project turned out to be a rather a larger task than first thought, but this restoration has added decades to this unique gravesite. 

The following is a sequence of the restoration process. Click to enlarge pictures

Checking Depth of Tombstone

Removing the Foot-Stone

Removing the Sunken Headstone

Using a Block & Tack to Save Tired Backs

Foot-Stone Removed

Headstone & Side-Rail Made of White Marble

Digging & Leveling Trench

Adding Sand & Gravel to Foundation

Setting Side-Rail in Place

Leveling Side-Rail

Refitting Mortise & Tenon Joints In Place

Applying Compound To Hold Tombstone

Leveling Tombstone

Sand Added to Grave Top

Finished

Finished

Rest in Sweet Peace Mollie

Cemetery Restoration Workshop Complete - Part 1

Northern Arkansas has had its first Cemetery Restoration Workshop sponsored by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP)  -  April 20^th, 2013.   First, I would like to thank Holly Hope in taking the chance in believe in the necessity of a workshop to be held at Mountain Home, Arkansas, in the historic Mountain Home Cemetery.    

Click to go to their webpage.

 Secondly, a would like to extend a load of appreciation to James "Rusty" Brenner and his crew from Dallas, Texas, who were on hand to show the proper way in restoring & preserving many of our historic & cherished monuments for future generations.  These gentlemen were professional & knowable in every aspect.  Rusty’s company is called the Texas Cemetery Restoration and these men truly live by their motto, “Excellence in monument and gravestone conservation, preservation, and restoration.”

While there, they taught the basics of:

• Cemetery Assessment
• GPS & GIS Mapping
• GPR – Ground Penetrating Radar
• Leveling
• Cleaning
• Repair

If anyone would like more information in contacting Rusty to speak at a conference or would like to have him and his crew train or restore your monuments & Cemetery & monuments, here is his contact information.

Texas Cemetery Restoration LLC

10122 Cherry Tree Dr.
Dallas, Texas, 75243

Email: info@texascemeteryrestoration.com

Phone: (214) 686-0014

Website: www.texascemeteryrestoration.com

You may also like them on Facebook.

Texas Cemetery Restoration does:

• Free Consultation
• Cemetery Assessments
• Leveling
• Cleaning
• Repairs 

I know it has been a custom for many caring people to clean monuments with Bleach, Vinegar, Ajax, Comet, Muriatic Acid, Lime Away, Bon Ami or Bar Keeper's Friend.  But, these detergents have salts & chemicals that will breakdown and degenerate the stone prematurely.

For those interested in purchasing a cleaner for monuments that will not break down & destroy stone, please contact Rusty for the biological solution D/2.  I have posted a link here to see how well this solution works.  Rusty even has a small instructional video to give the basics on D/2.

Click to watch video. Time - 3:57

Purchase D/2 at:

www.gravestonecleaner.com

  

Now, I will be placing photos for Saturday’s workshop to show some of our workshop.  
Click to enlarge pictures.

 

Morning Arrival

Preparing for Workshop

Cemetery GPS Mapping Instruction

Cemetery GPS Mapping Instruction

Knocking Debris Off with Water

Applying D/2 and Killing The Biologicals That Are Growing In the Monument

Part 2 Coming Soon...Showing  a Major Restoration of a Gravesite in the Mountain Home Cemetery.

Cemetery Preservation Workshop - April 20th

 

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program & the Donald W. Reynolds Library with be hosting a Cemetery Preservation Workshop at the Mountain Home Cemetery April 20th .

Registration is at no charge, but it is limited to 40 people.  You do not need to be a resident of Baxter County to attend.

This workshop on the basics of cemetery conservation will feature instruction by James “Rusty” Brenner of Texas Restoration LLC.

Who Would Benefit?

• Cemetery Board Members
• Families Wanting to Learn How to Care for Family Cemeteries & Plots
• Young People Interested in History & Preservation - Merit Badge
• Genealogist
• People Who Use Bleach on Tombstones
• Anyone Who Cares About Preserving Historical Monuments for Future Generations

A sack lunch will be provided by the Donald W. Reynolds Library & will be served at the cemetery.

If you wish to eat somewhere else, information will be available. Tents will be provided in case of rain. You may want to bring a lawn-chair to take a break.  If your allergic to the sun or ticks & chiggers, bring sunblock & tick spray may be advisable.  Also, wear clothes that you can get dirty in.

Training will be “Hands on” with:

 

1. Introduction, Workshop Overview & Basic Logistics 

2. A Walking Tour through the Historic Area 

3. Cemetery Mapping & Monument Assessments 

4. Hands-on Cleaning, Leveling & Basic Repairs 

5. Question & Discussions 

We still have some training slots open!  

You may also register by calling 870-580-0932 

or

Emailing vincent.a@baxlib.org 

Or       holly@arkansasheritage.org

See you Saturday, April 20th.