------------forward message---------------- >Comments: To: cemetery-l@rootsweb.com >To: KYROOTS@LSV.UKY.EDU > >An article in the Tuesday, June 15, 1999 issue of the Louisville >Courier-Journal reported that Indiana Geologists are studying the use of >siltstone in tombstones of the 1800s. Many have been found in Indiana, >Illinois, and Kentucky. Quarries in Orange County, Indiana produced >300,000 pounds of siltstone a year, most of it going to produce >knife-sharpening whetstones. They have now come to believe these quarries >supplied stone for a great many tombstones, but say no records of this >industry exists. > >Ox-drawn wagons would haul the stones from the Orange County quarries to >the White River's west fork, or to the Lost River, and the stones would be >placed on boats and barges bound for the Wabash, Ohio, and Mississppi Rivers. > >These stones have a distinctive tan color, and from the side thick and thin >layers of various shades of tan can be seen. These stones are remarkably >well-preserved. Engraving from the 1820's can look as sharp as if they had >been cut last year. They probably went out of use as tombstones in the >mid 1800's as marble became more available. > >The article contained quotes for Robert M Taylor, Jr., of The Indiana >Historical Society. Retired Geologist Richard L. Powell of the Indiana >Geological Survey and Illinois archeaologist Michael McNerney were also >quoted in the article. > >The Indiana Historical Society has received a $6100 grant to study the >distribution of these stones. They are asking that anyone who knows of >these stones to take front-and-side view photographs of it and send them >to: Erik Kvale, Indiana University, Indiana Geological Survey, 611 N. >Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405. > Mary Ann Kaylor makaylor@npwt.net