Hi everyone,
I haven't had a chance to update the PCRP web pages in a little while
and I have some information that will soon be incorporated.
When cleaning grave stones: NEVER use any kind of chemical cleaners.
If you must try to clean a stone, use only plain water and a soft
brush. I had advocated the removal of lichens and while this may
sometimes be necessary to read the stone, should otherwise be avoided.
Lichens produce an acid which etches the stone and softens it. When you
remove these invaders, you are exposing virgin stone to the forces of
nature and making it easier for new lichens to take hold again. As far
as restoration and preservation, concentrate efforts on cleaning the
grounds, straightening stones etc. Sunlit will do more to kill and
prevent lichens and moss than anything else. This information
represents consensus opinions from several professional conservators and
preservationist. (thank you Ramona) I am also in the process of
locating and adopting a field guide for stone identification, cleaning,
and repair. One such guide has already been recommended to me and I
will be ordering it soon. If you know of any others, please tell me
about them.
Also: I have been talking to Garmin International's Sponsorship
Committee on the donation of a number of GPS units. The idea being that
the units could be loaned to county or cemetery volunteers to help build
a state wide coordinate map. Despite the 100 yd error margin, the hand
held GPS represents the quickest and easiest method of obtaining useful
coordinates for our cemeteries. I'll let you know how this turns out.
Scott Satterthwaite
Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project State Coordinator
http://www.citznet.com/~ssattert/inpcrp/