Rhonda,
That sounds great, maybe this will cause some discussion among those who take care of
cemeteries. Sheila
Rhonda Stoffer <rstoffer(a)marion.lib.in.us> wrote:
Here is my rough draft to the editor about the letter published advising
people to use Brillo pads and Oven cleaner on tombstones, any
suggestions are appreciated!
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the letter to the editor in the
January 2006 issue of Kentucky Explorer. The writer gave instructions on
how to clean a gravestone using Brillo pads and Easy Off Oven Cleaner.
Having attended workshops sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society,
and sponsoring 3 cemetery restoration workshops myself through the
Marion Public Library, I was appalled at the information presented.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any chemicals be applied to a grave
marker. Older tombstones were carved using marble, limestone and
sandstone which are much softer stone than the currently used granite
markers. Chemicals seep into the stone, causing the stone to break down
and deteriorate over time. Discoloration also occurs. Rough scrubbing by
a Brillo Pad, wire brush or a power washer causes more damage. The only
things that should be used to clean a marble, sandstone or limestone
marker are water, a weak water/ammonia solution (4 parts water to 1 part
ammonia) and a nylon bristle brush. Chalk should never be used to read a
marker. Most inscriptions can be read after a gentle cleaning with water
and ammonia, with a soft brush.
Information on accepted cleaning methods can be found at: The
Indiana Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/, The Association for Gravestone
Studies,
http://www.gravestonestudies.org/, Saving Graves,
http://www.savinggraves.com, The Chicora Foundation,
http://chicora.org/cemetery_preservation.htm, Connecticut Gravestone
Network,
http://www.ctgravestones.com/Conservation/cleaning.htm, and the
book A Graveyard Preservation Primer by Lynette Strangstad, available
from
Amazon.com.
Rhonda Stoffer
Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services
Marion Public Library
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
"Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have."
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
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