Cemeteries act as a reflection of people's lives and as their final resting places. For this reason, it is essential to maintain them in respect for the dead. Headstones, however, wear out with time due to weather elements and chemical reactions making cemetery restoration necessary. With the following guide, you can restore a cemetery.
Outline a detailed plan
When most people think of cemetery restoration, they expect the project to be completed in a short time. Cemetery restoration is, however, a sensitive project that requires detailed planning and responsive care. It involves preserving the historical aspect and sentimental value that the cemetery holds. Preservation is about preserving history rather than making the cemetery look new. A detailed restoration plan will include a survey of the graveyard and documentation of individual graves.
Survey
A survey of the cemetery is an essential part of its restoration. In this step, you need to assess individual graves and determine the condition of their gravestones. In this step, you can employ technology to ease the process of documentation. You can prepare a list of all grave plots and their existing conditions, and you can take pictures for reference. In this stage, you should also identify any current family members who have the responsibility of caring for these gravestones. You should ask for permission from the relatives or the church to complete the restoration project.
You should also assess any landscape surrounding the cemetery. Old and abandoned cemeteries usually have a lot of outgrown trees, shrubs and vegetation. After evaluating the scenery, you should determine if current growth will interfere in the viewing of tombstones or will block any pathways. This will allow you to develop a maintenance plan that will prevent vegetation from overrunning the graves.
Funding and restoration duties
Cemetery preservation is not a well-funded restoration project in comparison to other historical grounds. You can, however, find local grants from historical societies and civic groups. You can also request state or local funding. Budgetary constraints will limit the restoration activities you can perform. After determining your financing, you can evaluate which restoration activities require priority over others. Some priority tasks may include repairing gravestones or addressing any landscape issues that may be unstable.
You should also outline a maintenance plan to be carried out after restoration. Cemeteries require significant maintenance work after a restoration project. You can leave instructions for landscape maintenance in a way that does not disturb the tombstones.
To learn more, contact a cemetery near you.
Share30 June 2020
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