> Hello all: > > We are restoring Bethsaida Cemetery in Tipton County that was "re-set" > back in the 1950's using cement as I was told by one who helped on that > project. We now have a huge mound of cement that we have removed and > replaced with crushed stone and new bases, etc. Needless to say, the > stones still fell over and leaned and slid of bases. The cement doesn't > give a good fix. > > Joan Wray > Tipton County > ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` > > I am having trouble replying to INPCRP, so Mark is forwarding this > message for me.... > > I looked at the photos of this cemetery, and I was saddened to see the > concrete and metal frames on the stones. If any research was done on > the web, there would have been several sources that state concrete is a > "do not do" thing. Concrete is basically irreversable. I have a very > low sucess rate with removing a stone from concrete, and the hours > involved are incredible. If I am unsure of what to do with a stone, I > wait and do research. The stone is the number one priority. Madison Co > has more than just this one cemetery with the stones set in concrete, so > it is not just limited to a "one time deal". They have been doing this > for a long time. Don't get me wrong, I see this in every county I go > into. Most of the concrete work has been done many years ago. That is > why we stress education so strongly, so it won't continue in this trend. > I have seen too many stones where the concrete comes off, and you see > the evidence of the salts in the concrete eating the stone away. Sure, > concrete is quick and easy, but doing it the right way first would be > much better. I always say that the problems in a cemetery are not what > is readily visible, but what is below the surface, such as concrete. > The cemetery may look pretty now, but in a few years, the stones will > start snapping off from the pressure of the concrete. > I am always looking for better ways to do restoration, so don't think > that it's my way or no way. Just do the research first, PLEASE. > > Helen Wildermuth > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web - Check your email from the web at > http://mail2web.com/ . > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer > Cemeteries Restoration Project only. > Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname > and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com > are a better venue. > Thank you.