Hi List: I just read an article and thought I would pass it on. They said to make worn tombstones writings more legible to brush off dust etc. then use a squirt bottle of water. One time when we visited a Massachusetts grave yard and I took pictures in the rain the tombstones were very legible. I wish I had thought of all this on my past summer trip to Berks Co graveyards! Sally

Hi List: I just read an article and thought I would pass it on. They said to make worn tombstones writings more legible to brush off dust etc. then use a squirt bottle of water. One time when we visited a Massachusetts grave yard and I took pictures in the rain the tombstones were very legible. I wish I had thought of all this on my past summer trip to Berks Co graveyards! Sally -------------------- Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day Weekend. :-) I'll have to go back into my files, but as long as you're not using a chemical based product its OK. Its not recommended to do any rubbings on the stone of any kind as it further deteriorates the already fragile and worn inscription. The approach that works best for me is taking a picture of the inscription with a good digital camera or a high end 35 mm camera. I use a Cannon AE-1 that my parents bought me in 1981. Another way is using a mirror reflecting on the inscription. I do have a question for anyone that might know. What's the safest way to remove moss and mildew from a tombstone? I've encountered this on numerous trips to cemeteries with my ancestor's stones covered in the stuff. Thanks! Rick B

I have a headstone that is in French and I will go back with a water bottle to squirt on the stone. The local newspaper so botched my sister's obituary that it reminds us not to place full faith in newspaper listings! Thanks for the tip, Anna -----Original Message----- From: padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Richard Berkheiser Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 3:13 PM To: padutch-life@rootsweb.com Subject: [PD-LIFE] Tombstone Reading Hi List: I just read an article and thought I would pass it on. They said to make worn tombstones writings more legible to brush off dust etc. then use a squirt bottle of water. One time when we visited a Massachusetts grave yard and I took pictures in the rain the tombstones were very legible. I wish I had thought of all this on my past summer trip to Berks Co graveyards! Sally -------------------- Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day Weekend. :-) I'll have to go back into my files, but as long as you're not using a chemical based product its OK. Its not recommended to do any rubbings on the stone of any kind as it further deteriorates the already fragile and worn inscription. The approach that works best for me is taking a picture of the inscription with a good digital camera or a high end 35 mm camera. I use a Cannon AE-1 that my parents bought me in 1981. Another way is using a mirror reflecting on the inscription. I do have a question for anyone that might know. What's the safest way to remove moss and mildew from a tombstone? I've encountered this on numerous trips to cemeteries with my ancestor's stones covered in the stuff. Thanks! Rick B ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The only safe method I have heard about is to use a popcicle stick with a rounded end on it. You just gently pry the gunk off the stone---not hard. I just cringe whenever someone talks about doing rubbings, etc. The stones that are old are soooo fragile, they can have the whole front of the stone slide right off, if people are too rough with the stones. Makes me shudder to think about it!! The best thing is to leave the stones alone---you could just really make a mess of them if you tinker with them!! Janice in Iowa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Berkheiser" <reberkheiser@earthlink.net> To: <padutch-life@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 2:13 PM Subject: [PD-LIFE] Tombstone Reading > > I'll have to go back into my files, but as long as you're not using a > chemical based product its OK. Its not recommended to do any rubbings on > the stone of any kind as it further deteriorates the already fragile and > worn inscription. > > The approach that works best for me is taking a picture of the inscription > with a good digital camera or a high end 35 mm camera. I use a Cannon > AE-1 that my parents bought me in 1981. Another way is using a mirror > reflecting on the inscription. > > I do have a question for anyone that might know. What's the safest way to > remove moss and mildew from a tombstone? I've encountered this on > numerous trips to cemeteries with my ancestor's stones covered in the > stuff. > > Thanks! > > Rick B >