Scott and Venus Andersen report on their latest restoration work at the Dean Cemetery in Ross County, Ohio that they began in 2011.
Their accomplishments include: removing a large portion of the plant life overgrowth and trees that were encroaching around the gravestones, uncovering and cleaning long buried gravestones, with repairing, re-setting and straightening several that needed the additional attention.
Their efforts have brought about a reformation that is remarkable!
Today, we'll take a look at the gravestones for John Cadwellander Wallace and his son, Alexander Wallace, both buried at the Dean Cemetery.
And, the final two photographs tell the amazing story of how the appearance of straight and tall standing gravestones, no matter how old or even chipped they may be, profoundly affect our senses as we admire their resiliency.
We realize that such an improved condition was created by dedicated human hands. This concern and caring of the living for the dead invites our respect for both.
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(Gravestone Photographs below)
John Cadwellander Wallace, top photograph, as found by Scott and Venus in 2011, middle photograph taken in September, 2011 and lower photograph taken October 21, 2013
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(Gravestone Photographs Below)
Alexander Wallace as found by Scott and Venus in 2011, middle photograph taken in September, 2011, and lower photograph taken October 21, 2013
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(Gravestone Photographs Below )
Top Photograph taken in December 2012 before some of the gravestones were straightened.
The leaning stones were also sinking further into the ground. If left as is, they would eventually sink out of sight.
The lower photograph shows more gravestones standing tall in straight rows.
Mary Dickey's gravestone is closest to the camera.
Thanking Scott and Venus Andersen for sharing their photographs that exhibit the evolution of the Dean Cemetery -- an early Southern Ohio burial ground that has progressed from being almost invisible to looking lovingly cared for because of their continued improvements.
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