http://pages.cthome.net/hirsch/dodont.htm this website has advice about types of stone used in cemetery monuments and how to care for them. My immediate response to exterior stonework is to seal the pores with a clear weatherproof coating mixed with algaecide/mildecide to prevent growth of leachens which in time will expand the pores into cracks, then the winter ice will further crack the stones apart. .............................BUT I am apparently wrong on all considerations........... But this site says the stone has to breathe, so I guess it best to follow the advice of real experts, among whom are probably monument dealers and cutters. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lisa Lepore" <llepore@comcast.net> To: <RIGENWEB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 8:53 AM Subject: Re: Re:Re: [RIGENWEB] Cemetery Stone Repair Class > Hi Bill - > > I believe Bob Ryan is talking about the same situation - > a catholic parish cemetery that the particular parish cannot > afford to restore. > > If you want to repair a stone in such a cemetery, I'm sure you > will be allowed to hire a qualified monument company to repair > the stones. > > Call the church and ask how to proceed. I don't believe they > are saying it can't be done - they are just saying you have to > follow their rules. > > If a storm blew over all the stones, and the cemtery workers > righted them all, no one would complain. > > Following this logic, I don't think the church would need permission > from the owners of the stones that have fallen over to stand > them up again if the church decided to make repairs in the cemetery. > > The point here is that it is the church who owns these cemeteries > so it is the church who will have to give permission for any repairs > > If you and Bob are asking about restoring the entire cemetery, > it would seem to me that a meeting with the priest is in order. > > There might be parishioners and other interested > people in the community who would hopefully be willing to > improve the cemetery. [there are parishes who sponsor > boy scout troops that need projects....] If you could put > together such a group, the parish priest might be willing to > work with you. > > The best thing would be for someone who personally knows > the priest to talk to him about the situation with these cemeteries > and see what the feelings are about getting something done, so > you will know how to proceed. There's always some politics > involved..... > > In the end, it all comes down to money - an unused > historical cemetery is probably pretty low on their list of > priorities. > > Lisa