Thanking Susan Munch Frank, a member of the Facebook Group, "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries," for granting her permission to share her photograph of the inscription of the Helena Johanna Wagner Schack gravestone at the Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
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While, Susan did not take a "before" photograph of this gravestone's inscription -- meaning before rubbing snow over the letters and numbers -- she did inadvertently leave the lower right-hand portion alone which helps for comparison purposes.
There is a photo dated September 27, 2014 on "Find A Grave" that offers a view of this gravestone which shows the entire inscription in its natural state.
Click HERE to view inscription on "Find a Grave."
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I think the "after" photograph of this grave marker clearly illustrates how rubbing snow over the lettering on a marker greatly enhances its inscription.
It may take a bit of practice and the process may not work equally as well with all types and styles of gravestones, but it is worth a try if you feel a more clear look at the words and numbers is needed.
This is a great use of the snow (make sure no pebbles are in the snow you use!) and it is safe to use on the gravestone.
Trying this method of spreading snow over a gravestone's inscription may also save you some time later on after the snow has melted. Otherwise, you might need to shine some additional light on the inscription by using a mirror or a LED flashlight, or clean the gravestone with water and a soft bristle brush to achieve the same results.
