Kay,
Merle and I started out just about the same way. We ended up adopting one of
the Franklin County cemeteries and chopping, pulling, tugging, sawing,
burning, and mowing our way through it. Look out! It is addictive!
There are folks with much more experience in this, but here is my two-cents
worth:
I would check to see if there is an existing list at your library or
historical society, or at the State Library. In each cemetery we listed,
there was an existing list. We found stones which were not listed on it,
and we failed to find stones which were listed.
If you are unable to find an existing plot map of the cemetery, you will
need to draw a simple one to indicate where in the cemetery each stone is
located. (Row and Grave).
When the inscription is difficult to read (most of the time) it is helpful
to rub foamy shaving cream onto the surface. When you squeegy it off, the
foam remains in the inscription, and makes it easier to read. We have used
colored sidewalk chalk, too, but we have been told this may be more
damaging to the stone than the shaving cream.
No matter how careful we are, we always have to go back and recheck some of
the stones. We find it handy to videotape each stone. The time of day makes
a big difference here; if the sun is behind the tombstone, it is harder to
get a good picture. We have also carried a small tape recorder and read into
it. The numbers are tricky. It is so easy to misinterpret a "4" as a
"1",
a "3" as an "8" (or even 6 or 9), etc.
Here, in Franklin County, we are past the prime time of year for this work,
especially if the cemetery is isolated or abandoned. The weeds are getting
as high as the tombstones, already, in some cases.
Feel free to contact us, if we can be of any help.
Merle and Ruth Schlemmer
SE Indiana
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry & Kay Davidson <ldkd(a)worldnet.att.net
To:
INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com
Date:
Tuesday, April 21, 1998 7:16 PM
Subject: Where to Start?
Hi Folks,
I am new to this list and have only seen one posting. I live in Allen
County on the north side of Fort Wayne. I know of a cemetery not far from
where I live that is in bad shape. For years I've been "drawn" to it, I
don't know why. But I would like to have some guidance in what you all do.
I don't know if it's been read. I don't know what church/family it
belonged to. Best guess is that it's 2-3 acres. My sister told me that
she would go with me this weekend to read it and gather as much information
we can from the headstones. If the day is nice we'll go in the morning, if
not, I'll go alone.
Does anyone know of any one who is doing the same thing in this area? If
so could they contact me or vice versa?
What do I do with the information I do collect? Is there anything I should
do so that I don't get into any kind of trouble? I'm determined to do
something good but want to follow any rules or avoid any problems others
may have had in the past. Please let me know.
Kay
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