Sharing the Latest Blog Post from "Stone Revival Historical Preservation" -- "Outdoor Indiana"

Sharing the latest blog post by Stone Revival Historical Preservation 

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The Indiana DNR publishes a magazine entitled:  "Outdoor Indiana" and in the current, September/October 2016 issue, are articles on the subject of cemeteries.

One such article is entitled ...:

"Of grave concern"

"Cemetery care is a noble but sensitive pursuit"
By Marty Benson, OI staff

Photography by Frank Oliver, OI staff 

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... where only a snippet of the story is currently publicly provided online.  

However, for magazine subscribers and those who have read the magazine where it is currently available to the public such as at libraries, the full multi-page article is available.  It will be available online later this year.  

Having read the full article, I feel it short-changed the readers by not including comments from more than one gravestone business person who resides in Indiana; nor include reports of studies that have been conducted by others on the various methods used for cleaning gravestones.  Methods ranging from using plain water and a soft bristle brush to, sadly, the destructiveness of one of the most unapproved methods still in use - power tools, specifically Nyalox brushes attached to high speed power drills - ostensibly to clean and 'polish' gravestones. 

Thankfully, the "Stone Revival Historical Preservation" blog post addresses this issue and exposes the dangers of using aggressive/abrasive tools on gravestones regardless of whose hands are holding the tool, lest anyone would think that because someone operates a gravestone cleaning business that they would somehow find a way to stop an abrasive tool from being ~ well abrasive!    

A true professional gravestone conservator (or preservationist / restorationist) who faithfully adheres to Do No Harm Best Practices as set forth by the NCPTT would NOT be picking up nyalox brushes and power drills to clean gravestones!  

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Reference:
  The July 24, 2014 NCPTT Blog Post entitled: 

Abrasive Cleaning of Grave Markers

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Yes, we have explored this subject over and over here in Ohio since this destructive practice "wormed its way" into our Buckeye State.   

Sadly, our neighbor Indiana, for all of its strong government laws enacted to protect its cemeteries, has failed to enact a law making it illegal to use power tools on gravestones.  

Enacting strong specific laws for cleaning gravestones would be a big step in the right direction to stop this type of needless destruction of the epitaphs, names, dates, and symbolic motifs that were so beautifully carved with care and skill on the very gravestones they seek to protect from harm.  

When "I S" means something other than "is"! -- Mystery Markers at the Center Village Cemetery in Harlem Township, Delaware County, Ohio

Photographs and information from Vicki Tieche -- submitted September 3rd and 4th, 2016.
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Vicki Tieche's question is in connection to the smaller size plain markers that only have the inscription of "I S" carved on them. And, Vicki is wondering if anyone else has seen "I S"carved on small stone markers.

Below is the information that Vicki Tieche has shared and her question to learn the meaning of the "I S" inscribed on several of the small size footstone looking stones at the Center Village Cemetery in Harlem Twp., Delaware County, Ohio.

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"In your research and or cemetery work, have you ever run across roughly made markers with only the initials I.S. on them? I have found 5 in one of our cemeteries, the one with the highest concentration of Civil War burials. I've wondered if they were temporary markers put in for soldiers graves until the families could afford to buy a real stone. A couple of them were near Civil War stones and in most cases, the IS stones were flat on the ground or along the edge of the cemetery. I'm attaching some pictures. "

"One of them, the last one we found, my daughter stepped on as we were leaving the cemetery one day. It was face down beside the large monument for a Civil War soldier who died at Atlanta. We'd been over it / past it many times and hadn't realized it was shaped until that day. That's when I made the possible connection to war burials - the others had been near the graves of soldiers who died in the war. I'm attaching a picture of the large monument. The IS stone was below the right side of the stone, between the stone and the cemetery fence."

"Yes, Center Village Cemetery is the only one where I've found the IS stones.

I may be able to add a little more to help - one of the first settlers here was Ishmael Bennet, born about 1729, survivor of the Wyoming Massacre, who came with his son, the Reverend Daniel Bennet in 1809. Ismael was a stonecutter "at the base of little mountain" in Pennsylvania. His son, Daniel obviously learned the trade from his father because there are stones signed "Brother D. Bennet". Center Village Cemetery was created beside the ME Church in Center Village. Reverend Russell Bennett, son of Daniel, lived beside the church and was chaplain for the 32nd OVI company I. So, there's a high possibility Russell was also a stonecutter or had learned enough from his father to make the IS stones."

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Center Village Cemetery on Find A Grave

 Above is a close up view of the marker below by the tree

Upcoming: Monday, September 19, 2016 at 7:00p.m. - In Circleville - Presentation about the Frye / Frey Farm Cemetery in Pickaway County, Ohio

From the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society:

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"Monday, September 19 at 7 p.m. Joan Smith will present a program on Frey Cemetery located in Jackson Township. Joan has researched the occupants of the cemetery and will talk about their history and relationships to others buried there. If you have someone buried there, just want to know how to go about the research used to find out about someone who is a township pioneer or are interested in old cemeteries, this program is a good one to attend. See you then. Historical & Genealogical Library, 210 N. Court St."  In Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio. 

The Frye AKA The Frey Farm Cemetery on Find A Grave

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Interesting and informative description:

"Cemetery notes and/or description":

"The charting of the Frye Cemetery was done in 1971 by Mary Kusel. The Frye Cemetery is just off of State Road #104, 1.9 miles south of State Road # 316 and 1320 feet east of State Road #104 along the high bank of the Scioto River. The cemetery is on private property. 

The cemetery has not been maintained and has several headstones overturned. 

Anyone who has relatives in this grave yard or who has an interest in its preservation, please contact John Grove, 13904 105th Terr. North, Largo, Florida 33774.

The cemetery is located in Jackson Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is # 9492 (Frey Farm Cemetery) in “Ohio Cemeteries 1803-2003”, compiled by the Ohio Genealogical Society."