Overview: This 2-day workshop will provide basic and advanced information and skills for people who are interested in preserving historic gravestones and cemetery monuments. The workshop will provide hands-on instruction and preservation treatments required on stone or markers located in Old Norborne Cemetery.
April 13th: Will focus on advanced techniques used in the preservation of a significant angel figure which has been severely damaged. Work will include replacing/attaching broken pieces, pinning, mortar and epoxy repairs, and composite stone repairs.
April 14th: Will focus on the basic cemetery preservation techniques and will focus on cleaning, resetting and realignment. Additional composite repairs will be completed from previous days work.
The event is raising funds for the Christopher P Robinson International Preservation Trades Exchange Scholarship which will fund preservationists to travel overseas to expand their skills and knowledge. The instructors are donating there time and services, & Atlas Preservation is donating all supplies.
* Moss Rudley: National Park Service, Historic Preservation Training Center
* Jonathan Appell: Atlas Preservation Inc.
* Location: Old Norborne Cemetery, 127 W. South Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia
* Cost : One Day $100, Two Day $185.00. Lunch will be provided.
* Contact Info:
Moss Rudley: mossrudley@yahoo.com phone: 304-261-1748
Jon Appell: jwappell@gmail.com phone- 860-558-2785
* Registration/ Payment:: ptn.org, or checks made to PTN co/ CRMSF, or pay at event
Treatments that will be conducted:
* Gravestone cleaning will be discussed, demonstrated & performed. Fragile stones can be harmed if cleaned aggressively. Safe cleaning techniques will be conducted.
* Re-setting of a tablet-stone, which is badly leaning, and or in a sunken condition.
* We will disassemble and then re-construct a multi-piece monument. This will involve discussion on some material options. The process includes re-leveling the base stone, removal of all joining material, applying boding materials, lowering upper element into base stone safely, and properly re-grading around the stone.
* The attendees will also learn how to join broken gravestone fragments together employing stone epoxy, clamping and bracing techniques and options.
* We will discuss the pros and cons of drilling and employing blind pinning.
* An overhead, lifting tripod will be assembled and employed. We will discuss slings and rigging options, and then rig and lift a large monument of some type, which is in need or re-setting due to being unstable or is already fallen.
* Over view materials & process involved in replacing eroded or lost stone with composite infill material. This includes preparation, application, curing of mortars, color matching, etc.
* The process and potential need for consolidation of weak and decayed gravestones will be explained. The problems associated with sealing historic gravestones will be covered.
