Got this from the Huntingdon Co, PA mail list and thought it might help someone. Margie R. Pearce Genealogy URL: http://www.angelfire.com/la/ancestors LaUSAG URL: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/4808 M&M Gymnastics URL: http://www.swiftsite.com/MnMGym -----Original Message----- From: Ken Boonie [SMTP:kab9@apollo.vicon.net] Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 1998 8:42 AM To: PAHUNTIN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Tombstone reading I received the following from Claudia Garner who is subbed to Bradford county mailinglist. Thought it would be helpful. Gravestone reading/ I am passing along an item that I saw in the Hints From Heloise column this morning. A Use for Baking Soda "I am a genealogist, and I go to old cemeteries seeking gravestone of family members who have passed on. I rub baking soda on writing that is unclear. A handful rubbed over the writing brings out the lettering and numbers. You can brush it off and it does no harm to the stone or grass around it. It is as good as charcoal rubbing and takes a lot less time. If I photograph the stone, it comes out well. I buy a large box and it is relatively inexpensive." Jane, New Jersey Reply from Heloise- "To be on the safe side, it's not recommended to use dry baking soda on highly polished stones for fear of scratching them. You are right about no harm to other headstone surfaces and the environment. It's a handy thing to keep around and use for all kinds of projects." Jodi Roper Virginia Referring to the baking soda trick for enhancing gravestone lettering when photographing them....I have heard of a similar trick: use shaving cream and a squeegee to fill in the depressions of the letters. It works very well. Since it's a soap product, I would think the shaving cream is biodegradable, but it may be more expensive. Linda O'Halloran -- Ken Boonie Coordinator USGenWeb Project Huntingdon County PA http://www.rootsweb.com/~pahuntin/