WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO WHEN WORKING IN A CEMETERY
by Jeanne Robinson, Executive Director
Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association
ohca(a)integrityonline.com
Historic cemeteries are in need of care, but there are many
well-meaning folks who actually harm them. Here are a few hints
to assure your visit to a cemetery will result in something
positive.
Old marble gravestones and wooden grave markers are very
fragile. Do not lean on them or treat them roughly. Be careful
with weed whips around the stones (concrete bases are much
tougher). If necessary, hand-trim any weeds.
Lawnmowers should never be run over a gravestone. Take care when
mowing near markers, fencing, or curbing. Bumpers made of old
tires on your mower will help prevent scraping.
Cleaning of marble gravestones is NOT recommended. Even the most
gentle cleaning methods (clear water and soft bristle brushes)
will remove particles of stone. Never use bleach or wire brushes
on ANY stone. NEVER power-wash or sandblast a grave marker of
any kind.
Please do not smoke in the cemetery. There are no ashtrays, and
a stray spark could start a fire in dry grasses and weeds. Many
old cemeteries were totally obliterated when fire swept away all
of the old wooden markers.
Please do not move or remove any metal funeral home markers --
even if they can't be read. They mark a grave. The same is true
of fragments of gravestones or even what appear to be stray
rocks. If you must move for mowing or weeding, please return
them to the exact spot from which they came.
Before you remove or mow plants try to identify them. Lilacs,
roses, iris, and other flowers, trees, and shrubs may be antique
specimens planted by pioneers. It is OK to remove trees if they
pose a threat of getting big and harming nearby gravestones.
Herbicides may be used in cemeteries, but be careful not to
spray on the markers. Protect them from over-spray with garbage
bags or dry cleaner bags.
In most Oregon cemeteries [and elsewhere in the United States]
you will find examples of four common types of grave markers.
The following will help you identify each:
Granite Gravestones: Granite is a very strong mineral used to
identify graves since about the turn of the [20th] century when
stone carvers developed tools to carve the lettering. It holds
a polish well and generally will have multi-colored grains.
Marble Gravestones: Marble was used for most early grave markers
in Oregon [and in many other parts of the United States]. It is
generally white or blue-gray and often shows veining. Because it
is a soft mineral, early stone carvers often included beautiful
artwork on their marble grave monuments.
White Bronze Markers: These monuments look to be a gray-green
color and often surprise folks when they realize they are metal
(zinc). If you are in doubt about whether you are looking at a
metal marker, tap it lightly. White bronze monuments are hollow.
Wooden Markers: Early pioneers and settlers sometimes marked
graves with wooden crosses or slabs. Some contemporary graves
are also marked this way. Old wooden markers are hard to find
and harder to read.
[This article first appeared in the OHCA LEDGER, Volume 9, Issue
1 (June 2000) and is reprinted here with its kind permission and
that of the author. OHCA LEDGER is a publication of the Oregon
Historic Cemeteries Association, Inc., which is a nonprofit
corporation formed to educate the public about our cemeteries,
to build and maintain appropriate databases, and to protect our
cemeteries and their records.]