ACPA - Cemetery Vandalism - Grave Concerns 2

Untitled Document

Preservation Planning

Theft & Vandalism

ACPA County Representatives

ACPA Partners

News & Events

ACPA Membership

ACPA Store &
Fund Raisers

Resourse &
Courtesy Links

Grave Concerns: Protecting and Repairing Damaged Historic Cemeteries (Cont)

•

Rule number one: Don't attempt to do this yourself. There are several firms in Alabama and throughout the country that specialize in the restoration of historic burial stones. Consult elsewhere on this site or the Alabama Historical Commission for a list of firms with experience in repairing historic grave markers in the state.

•

Rule number two (if you didn't listen to Rule number one): Don't do anything that cannot be undone later.

•

Don't set stones in concrete! Concrete is made of different materials than gravestones, and will most likely damage the stone rather than repair it.

•

Don't use epoxy. This type of repair is probably incompatible with the materials in the stones, and will further damage the marker.

•

Don't use wire brushes, sandblasting, bleach, muriatic acid, or other chemicals to clean stones. Usually, a soft nylon scrub brush and water is all that is needed to clean stones.

•

Don't seal or waterproof stones. Stones must be allowed to have air and water pass through. Gravestones will absorb moisture (and other things) from the ground around them, and later evaporate this moisture. If stones are sealed, they are unable to allow this moisture to naturally evaporate, causing expansion problems and other damage.

Plan for the long-term

•

Once you have identified, recorded and temporarily secured the damaged markers and other features, you should begin planning for the long-term maintenance and care of the cemetery.

•

The best defense is a good offense. Planning for the long-term management and care of the historic burial grounds is the best way to be prepared for a disaster. A well-prepared master preservation plan will provide much needed information in the event of damage to the cemetery, as well as providing detailed information for its day-to-day maintenance. A good plan places the site in its cultural and historical context, identifies management considerations, recommends conservation treatments, and develops a maintenance schedule. Use the following checklist when preparing a master plan:

•

maps

•

detailed surveys of all major features

•

chain of ownership

•

historical and cultural evaluation

•

conditions assessment

•

recommended approaches to preserving landscape features

•

recommended conservation treatments

•

management considerations like visitor traffic and safety, lighting, security, and funding

•

maintenance planning

•

Contact the Alabama Historical Commission for more guidance in recording cemetery information and in developing a master plan.

Untitled Document