Rhonda, That sounds great, maybe this will cause some discussion among those who take care of cemeteries. Sheila Rhonda Stoffer <rstoffer@marion.lib.in.us> wrote: Here is my rough draft to the editor about the letter published advising people to use Brillo pads and Oven cleaner on tombstones, any suggestions are appreciated! Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the letter to the editor in the January 2006 issue of Kentucky Explorer. The writer gave instructions on how to clean a gravestone using Brillo pads and Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Having attended workshops sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society, and sponsoring 3 cemetery restoration workshops myself through the Marion Public Library, I was appalled at the information presented. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any chemicals be applied to a grave marker. Older tombstones were carved using marble, limestone and sandstone which are much softer stone than the currently used granite markers. Chemicals seep into the stone, causing the stone to break down and deteriorate over time. Discoloration also occurs. Rough scrubbing by a Brillo Pad, wire brush or a power washer causes more damage. The only things that should be used to clean a marble, sandstone or limestone marker are water, a weak water/ammonia solution (4 parts water to 1 part ammonia) and a nylon bristle brush. Chalk should never be used to read a marker. Most inscriptions can be read after a gentle cleaning with water and ammonia, with a soft brush. Information on accepted cleaning methods can be found at: The Indiana Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project, http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/, The Association for Gravestone Studies, http://www.gravestonestudies.org/, Saving Graves, http://www.savinggraves.com, The Chicora Foundation, http://chicora.org/cemetery_preservation.htm, Connecticut Gravestone Network, http://www.ctgravestones.com/Conservation/cleaning.htm, and the book A Graveyard Preservation Primer by Lynette Strangstad, available from Amazon.com. Rhonda Stoffer Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services Marion Public Library ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) --------------------------------- Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less