Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio & Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries on Facebook & me

This blog was started in 2008 with the thought in mind, including a healthy dose of hopefulness, to utilize it for the purposes of promoting cemetery preservation in Ohio through content that advocates for better protections for Ohio's most vulnerable of cemeteries - those that are Inactive (no burials in the past 25 years), those burial grounds deemed to be abandoned, and Ohio's small family cemeteries - all that are not eligible to be Registered due to their status. 
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Only Active cemeteries are eligible to be Registered. This statement bears repeating because cemetery registration affords stronger cemetery protections.
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If a cemetery is not Registered then complaints concerning issues such as lack of routine care, among other problems, cannot be submitted to the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission (the OCDRC) for a formal review to resolve complaints to those who are responsible for a cemetery's care. I'm sure that cemetery operators are more eager to resolve those complaints if the OCDRC contacts them as well as a concerned private citizen.
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In addition, the ORC's (Ohio Revised Codes) have remained the same and not upgraded to better address long standing problems cemeteries can face. Some of the vague wording - i.e. "may" versus "shall" - have presented loop-holes enabling cemetery operators to break promises time after time creating more problems for cemeteries under their care.

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Also, as the name of the blog implies "Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio" focuses on the fact that there is a need for those who are able to visit Ohio's seldom seen cemeteries to also take account of their condition and share that information with others; including like-minded folks who share their concerns about the poor condition these cemeteries are often found in.
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Fast forwarding to 2013 when this writer started "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" on Facebook.  

I just cannot write enough good things about this fantastic Facebook Group and its active and engaged members!  Membership has grown from 15 to the current number of over 1,600!  Included  are professional conservators, trained volunteers, cemetery photographers, those who document gravesites through tombstone transcriptions, those who study Ohio's gravestone carvers, professional genealogists, others who have cemetery themed blogs and so much more.
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Sharing is learning and a whole lot of learning has been happening on a day-to-day basis!  Questions are posed and answers offered; drone videos of cemeteries posted, gravestone cleaning videos shared, concerns addressed, and posts of various content ranging from news of upcoming cemetery preservation workshops to how to properly reset a marker are routinely shared.
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Now for the "me" part of this post, unfortunately something happened on January 18, 2026 where my Facebook account was suspended, even banned, and later hacked by someone posing as me all in about 24 hours.  As of this writing, that is still the case from what I know.
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It is a tough situation for me to be in but I know the group is in good hands with a great Co-admin. and so many wonderful members who understand that the group should keep growing and motivating other members to achieve greater success with their goals to preserve Ohio's cemeteries.
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I do not know when or even if I will be able to return since my fate rests in Facebook's hands at this point.  My one and only appeal that was allowed has been made and sadly denied with no explanation given.  

In the meantime, please know how much I miss all of you and all of your meaningful contributions I have enjoyed reading -- keep it going!  

Please keep sharing, thus ensuring that the learning continues!
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Are You Using the "Find A Grave" Phone App? If Not, Give It a Try!

Sharing from Michael Anderson who started the Facebook Group "Friends of Sugar Grove Cemetery" for folks who have an interest in preserving the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington, Ohio.

Michael is also an active member of "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" on Facebook. He has shared this information on both sites which is helping a lot of folks learn more about the value of using the "Find A Grave" phone app.:

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"I've just learned how to use the new Find A Grave phone app, and it will add the GPS coordinates to the memorial! This will really help pinpoint the location of the grave on a Google Earth map. 

Here's the location of my great grandfather's gravestone in Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington that I cleaned and reset today.

Are you and other Find A Grave volunteers using this app?"

Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries on Facebook is Bringing Awareness of the Plight of Ohio's Cemeteries that are in Need of Help

Reminder:

The (closed) Facebook Group: "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" covers such topics as documention of burial information, mapping burial locations, discussions about choosing the proper products and methods for cleaning, repairing and re-setting the different types of gravestones found in Ohio, obtaining veteran's markers, and improvements needed for grounds maintenance and ongoing upkeep of gravesites and cemetery landscape. Also, the importance of obtaining permission from owners to enter and visit gravesites located on private property. These are just some of the topics of discussion where ongoing sharing is learning.

It is active group of members who are bringing awareness of the plight of so many of Ohio's cemeteries and gravesites that have for too long been neglected and forgotten. 

Also, the Ohio Revised Codes currently in place are woefully inadequate and do little to protect cemeteries that are inactive or abandoned, and thus are unregistered -- only registered cemeteries are recognized by the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission that accepts complaints filed against those responsible for their care.

If you care about the current and future prospects of cemeteries in Ohio; where so many of our founding pioneer ancestors now rest, please consider asking to join "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries". Thank you!

(A scene from one of the workshops at the Old Burying Ground Cemetery in Greenfield, Ohio)

"Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" on Facebook Focuses on Several Aspects of Cemetery Preservation and Gravestone Conservation

For those who are incorporating cemetery research in Ohio with their genealogical and historical pursuits, a reminder that "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries", a closed Facebook group, focuses on a vast range of topics from documenting burials, properly cleaning gravestones with products and methods that do no harm, announcing upcoming cemetery preservation workshops, and updates on Ohio laws affecting cemeteries, etc. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PreservingOhioCemeteries/