cemetery preservation workshop
details
When was the workshop held?
On June 8, 2024 the Village of Cassopolis and Cass District Library hosted Doctor Thomas Henthorn and a number of talented interns from University of Michigan- Flint. The goal was to safely preserve a number of headstones in the oldest part of Prospect Hill Cemetery that were seeing the effects of Michigan weather after a century. Over 25 participants helped in preserving the headstones.
Watch coverage of the workshop here!
How can I get started in preserving headstones?
Cleaning Supplies
It is important to use the softest bristle brush you can find that still can provide a good scrubbing. Dr. Henthorn and his team use Tampico Brushes. This is a natural bristle brush, and a number of suppliers stock these and you can often find them from janitorial suppliers.
The soap that is used is a product called Orvus Paste. It is PH-Neutra, sodium lauryl sulfate and free of bleaches, brighteners and enzymes (all of which can be harmful to the stone or soil). You can find it from a number of retailers such as Tractor Supply.
The biocide Dr. Henthorn’s team used is called D2. This product doesn’t work right away, rather, it kills the biological material slowly. Be sure to check back on your work in a few weeks, as restoration will continue to work well after preservation has been completed. This product can be purchased from Holland Supply.
Professional Services
Cleaning is something anyone can do if they are properly trained. Repair work should be performed by a professional. Dr. Henthorn recommends the company below because they follow specific standards such as The Secretary of Interior Standards for Preservation, National Center for Preservation Training and Technology, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). When evaluating a company’s ability to repair, be sure the methods they use follow the aforementioned standards.
Carter Cemetery Preservation
(248) 408-0278
Loving Legacy
(810) 584-5330
Additional Literature
The State of Michigan published a handbook on cemetery preservation that has the techniques participants used during the workshop and has a helpful guide in the steps one should take in preserving historic cemeteries.
Future Workshops
Dr. Henthorn and his students host workshops at Glenwood Cemetery in Flint a few times every summer. During these workshops they cover the cleaning method and also do a few more repair demonstrations such as an epoxy & mortar repair technique for broken monuments.
Questions
If you ever have additional questions in cemetery preservation efforts, feel free to reach out: Thomas Henthorn – henthorn@umich.edu
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