Cemetery Preservation Workshop

Date(s):

4/29/2023 4/29/2023

Time(s):

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Description:

This cemetery preservation workshop will be presented in two parts by Dawn Cobb, archaeologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and John Heider, R.I.P., Ltd. They frequently lecture on understanding cemeteries and the laws protecting them, as well as cemetery preservation. They also provide hands-on training for the proper repair and resetting techniques used to fix grave markers.

Part 1 is a PowerPoint presentation on April 29, 2023, Sugar Tree Grove Presbyterian Church, 2210 MAM Trail, Monmouth, from 9:30 a.m.-noon. The presentation will focus on why we preserve cemeteries and the basic methods we use to do this. Our work is mostly on the cleaning, repairing, and resetting of marble markers that are common in nearly all cemeteries in Illinois. We will also discuss the Do’s and Don’ts of cemetery preservation to help the audience understand why some methods will work to preserve the gravestones and why other methods will damage them. Using improper methods and products will lead to a loss of important information.

Part 2 is a hands-on training workshop on April 29, 2023, Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery, from 1-4 p.m. Parking is available at the cemetery and along the side of the road. By “hands-on”, we really mean hands-on. Workshop participants will be probing for and exposing buried grave markers, cleaning the markers, and learning how to straighten and reset a marker. We will be working with simple tablet markers. All participants are strongly encouraged to learn each of the methods to ensure the continued preservation of historic cemeteries.

What you need for the workshop:
– be open to new ideas and methods

– Lunch is provided. Please bring drinking water, a lawn chair, and a pair of gloves. Dress for the season and wear sturdy shoes. There are no restrooms at the cemetery.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants for the classroom only and to 12 participants. for the classroom & cemetery

Please contact John Turnbull, Phone: 309/734-2131, E-mail: turnbullfh@gmail.com

RAIN DATE – JUNE 3

For more information:

Event Type:

Cultural Resources; Education/schools; Educator Workshop; History; Workshop

DNR Region(s):

1; 4; Statewide

Map: