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."

Monday, November 25, 2013

Restoring the Gravestones of Alcinda M. Hains and her brother Ebenezer Hains buried at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

Thanking Scott Andersen for sharing his most recent photographs of the restored gravestones of two young children buried at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio.  

The children were siblings; Ebenezer and Alcinda M. Hains, son and daughter of Joseph and Martha Hains who do not appear to be buried at the Old Burying Ground.

From Scott:

"Here is a stone I put back together at the Old Burying Ground.  Alcinda 1846-1849 and Ebeneezer Hains 1844-1845, brother and sister.  First the base of the monument was leveled.  The tablets were broken off in the base, and the broken pieces had to be gently worked loose.  Once I did that I epoxied them back together, and placed them back in the base using the "slot mix" recommended by Walt and Mark.  They were cleaned with the ammonia and water solution, and then the crack in the stones was filled with "void mix".  D/2 was then applied.  They are starting to lighten up, and it will be interesting to see how they look in the spring."

 Before Restoration Photograph Below:
 After Restoration Photograph Below:

It is heartwarming to see these two freshly cleaned little markers standing up straight and tall in their sturdy base once again -- looking as they may have appeared not long after the deaths of these youngsters in the late 1840s when their loved ones visted their gravesites.