Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Announcing a Cemetery Restoration Workshop - Friday, October 17, 2014 at 9:00 AM - Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM (EDT) Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana with Gravestone Conservator Jonathan Appell


Cemetery Restoration Workshop

Friday, October 17, 2014 at 9:00 AM - Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM (EDT)

Richmond, Wayne Co., IN

 "This will be a hands-on cemetery restoration workshop given by Jonathan Appell. All tools and materials required will be provided. 

The basic techniques taught the first day (FRIDAY 17 Oct. 9 AM - 4 PM) will also be taught on day two (SATURDAY 18 Oct 9 AM - 4 PM). 

Those that attend both days will be taught some additional advanced procedures.

Jeannie from the DNR will give classroom instruction on Friday evening (time and location to be determined).

This instruction along with the workshop will allow attendees to be certified to probe for grave markers. There will not be any charge for this class.

Jonathan Appell is a professional masonry conservation specialist with expertise in gravestone, monument, sculpture and historic masonry preservation. 

Trained in engineering, violin and cabinet making, sculpture and stone carving, Jonathan has worked in fields related to historic masonry for over 25 years. Materials and instructions will be provided onsite. 

Participants will learn how to identify different monument types, clean gravestones using appropriate materials, repair damaged monuments, and reset leaning or fallen headstones.

The Hoover Bulla Historic Cemetery will serve as the classroom for learning techniques that can be taken home for use in historic cemeteries. 

Direction and location of this Pioneer Cemetery will be sent to those that register.

There will be a small lunch provided. Bottled water will also be available. 

Please bring appropriate clothes for any weather. The workshop will be conducted regardless of the weather. Bring your own work gloves, safety glasses (if you want to use them), mask, hand tools, and any other items of a personal nature (might be a good idea to mark anything you bring). 

You might want to bring a lawn chair. Bug spray and sun screen will also be a good idea."
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For any questions or additional information please contact Dave Sloan desloan@aol.com

 

Sharing an Update - Dean Cemetery, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio



     Scott and Venus Andersen have spent 3 years routinely working at the Dean Cemetery in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio where some of his ancestors are buried.  

     The photographs below illustrate the dramatic progress that has been made both with the clean up of the cemetery's grounds and the gravestones that they have located, cleaned, repaired, and re-set during that time.  
 
     Thanking Scott Andersen for sharing his most recent photographs taken at the Dean Cemetery:

From Scott Andersen (September 17, 2014):

     "Today, I finally got around to digging up Mary Lawhead's foot stone. We've known where the broken off base was located for some time now, and recently, Venus had located what we have assumed was the rest of the stone buried several inches down, just next to the base. Well, I dug up the whole thing, got the base out of the ground, and the part that had been hidden. What we found though was that pieces were still missing. 


     But, after taking a close look at what we had, I realized that at least some of the missing pieces were over in the "junkyard". 

     The piece that is the top of the stone, with the rounded edge had been lying over there in the pile. So that was quite a thrill, to match up one of those orphaned fragments with a "known" stone. 

     But, there was still a pretty substantial piece of the puzzle missing. After a few minutes of probing the area around the foot stone's location, we found the small piece that you see in the photo."
  

  (Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)
Fragments for Mary Lawhead's footstone.
(Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)
All of the found fragments of Mary Lawhead's footstone. 

 
 (Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)
September 17, 2014 longer distance view of the Dean Cemetery 
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Below are photographs taken at the Dean Cemetery in September of 2011 courtesy of Scott Andersen
  (Scott Andersen above at the Dean Cemetery in September, 2011)
(Below are two random views of the Dean Cemetery in September, 2011)

 

Upcoming Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force Meetings - September 19 and September 24

REMINDER:
OHIO CEMETERY LAW TASK FORCE MEETINGS COMING UP. 

BOTH OF THESE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:

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Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.:
 

77 South High Street, 22nd
Floor Hearing Room
Columbus, Ohio 43215



Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.:
 

77 South High Street, 22nd
Floor Hearing Room
Columbus, Ohio 43215

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You can direct any questions about the meetings to:

Laura A. Monick
Registration and Resolution Section Chief
Ohio Department of Commerce
Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing
77 South High Street, 20th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-5384
www.com.ohio.gov