Stone Cleaning Project
The town’s cemetery consultants, Preservation, Inc., trained a wonderful, hardworking volunteer crew how to safely clean stones. Volunteers and consultants then worked side by side for a total of eight days, cleaning the stones in the oldest section closest to the road to the Vault.
The cleaning process: first stones are gently scraped and brushed to remove lichen, mold, and loose dirt. Then stones are sprayed with water, followed by a spray with a special, gentle cleaner that removes biological material. Firm but gentle scrubbing next, then rinsing with more water. The last step is more spray with the cleaner, which is left on, and continues to clean for months.
The change is remarkable. Stones that were dark gray are now off-white. Inscriptions that couldn’t be seen can now be read.
The project will continue in the Spring, with another two- or three-week training/working period. Volunteers are welcome and greatly appreciated!
Until then, take a walk and look at the change!
Conservation and Restoration of the Sergeant Gravestones
Preservation, Inc. staff also began an assessment of the condition of the Sergeant Gravestones. These two very large stones were originally set on legs, a kind of monument called a “table tomb.” At some point, the legs collapsed or broke, and the stones are now flat on the ground.
Bill Remsen and Ian Stewart, our Preservation Inc. consultants, dug around the edges to see if the legs were still there and what condition they might be in. They found evidence of some kind of support still there. They also found John Sergeant’s stone to made of very good quality brownstone. This is a bit unusual; most of our stones are marble, which was readily available locally.
They also cleaned the stones and wow! Words that we all thought had been lost to time and weather are suddenly clear to read.
The soil they removed along the edges has been replaced; the next phase will happen in spring. In the meantime, take a look. You’ll be amazed how much better they look!
