On Sunday, September 17, 2017, I visited the Brownhelm Cemetery located on an intersection of two scenic roadways in a farmland area of southwestern Lorain County. I visited this cemetery many years ago and had recalled some of the names of those buried there, and that some have early sandstone grave markers.
Whatever photos I had taken from my earlier trip, I could no longer locate. So I wanted to take new ones and linger a little longer than the last time.
I am so glad that I did return; yet sad at the same time because of what I saw after I arrived.
I was immediately saddened to see the number of severely flaking and crumbling gravestones. Some deteriorated to the point that their layers of deeply carved stone resemble dark brown jigsaw puzzle pieces. As fraying fragments, they are either hardly hanging onto the marker, or lying on the ground.
Sharing below random photographs featuring
the pioneer section of the Brownhelm Cemetery -- because words alone fail to explain the historic loss that time has taken away.
I was immediately saddened to see the number of severely flaking and crumbling gravestones. Some deteriorated to the point that their layers of deeply carved stone resemble dark brown jigsaw puzzle pieces. As fraying fragments, they are either hardly hanging onto the marker, or lying on the ground.
Sharing below random photographs featuring
the pioneer section of the Brownhelm Cemetery -- because words alone fail to explain the historic loss that time has taken away.
(Above)
Flaking and sinking gravestone for Nathan Keeler
(Above two photographs)
Severely deteriorated and sinking gravemarker for
Maryann, daughter of Almon and Mahittable Keeler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Above)
Longer distance view of deteriorating gravemarkers for
Mahettable Barnum, Wealthy Barnum, and Betsey Barnum
who were wives of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Gravemarker for Mahettable, wife of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Side-by-side view of the front and
reverse side of the Wealthy Barnum marker
(Above two photos)
Gravestone for Wealthy, wife of Silvester Barnum
Flaking and sinking gravestone for Nathan Keeler
(Above two photographs)
Severely deteriorated and sinking gravemarker for
Maryann, daughter of Almon and Mahittable Keeler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Above)
Longer distance view of deteriorating gravemarkers for
Mahettable Barnum, Wealthy Barnum, and Betsey Barnum
who were wives of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Gravemarker for Mahettable, wife of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Side-by-side view of the front and
reverse side of the Wealthy Barnum marker
(Above two photos)
Gravestone for Wealthy, wife of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Gravestone for Betsey, wife of Silvester Barnum
Gravestone for Betsey, wife of Silvester Barnum
(Above)
Grave Marker and military marker
Grave Marker and military marker
for Revolutionary War veteran, George Bacon.
(Above two photos)
Grave markers for Mrs. Hepzibah Creese Bacon
Grave markers for Mrs. Hepzibah Creese Bacon
and her husband, George Bacon
who was a Revolutionary War veteran
shown and noted above.
(Above)
Gravemarker for Pvt. Jerome B. Warner
Gravemarker for Pvt. Jerome B. Warner
(Above)
John Roemer, and his son, Charles Roemer
(Above)
Close-up view of the carver's name
Close-up view of the carver's name
etched on John Roemer's marker:
"H. G. Tousley. Medina"
"H. G. Tousley. Medina"
(Above)
(Above)
(Above)
Large gray granite monument
for the Perry Family
(Above)
The above photo features a row of white marble
tablet markers that were put in a concrete pad.
Some are now cracking off at their bases and falling over.
