Julia, Do you or list have the phone number of the library in New Cumberland, WVA? I am searching for a book History of the Pan-handle by J. H. Newton. Thank you.........grayce > From: "Julia A. Krutilla" <fkrutill@weir.net> > Reply-To: WVHANCOC-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 10:05:01 -0400 > To: WVHANCOC-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [WVHANCOC] WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO WHEN WORKING IN A CEMETERY > Resent-From: WVHANCOC-L@rootsweb.com > Resent-Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 07:04:29 -0700 > > For those of you who are planning a trip to your ancestor's grave this > summer: > > WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO WHEN WORKING IN A CEMETERY > > by Jeanne Robinson, Executive Director > Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association > ohca@integrityonline.com > > Historic cemeteries are in need of care, but there are many > well-meaning folks who actually harm them. Here are a few hints > to assure your visit to a cemetery will result in something > positive. > > Old marble gravestones and wooden grave markers are very > fragile. Do not lean on them or treat them roughly. Be careful > with weed whips around the stones (concrete bases are much > tougher). If necessary, hand-trim any weeds. > > Lawnmowers should never be run over a gravestone. Take care when > mowing near markers, fencing, or curbing. Bumpers made of old > tires on your mower will help prevent scraping. > > Cleaning of marble gravestones is NOT recommended. Even the most > gentle cleaning methods (clear water and soft bristle brushes) > will remove particles of stone. Never use bleach or wire brushes > on ANY stone. NEVER power-wash or sandblast a grave marker of > any kind. > > Please do not smoke in the cemetery. There are no ashtrays, and > a stray spark could start a fire in dry grasses and weeds. Many > old cemeteries were totally obliterated when fire swept away all > of the old wooden markers. > > Please do not move or remove any metal funeral home markers -- > even if they can't be read. They mark a grave. The same is true > of fragments of gravestones or even what appear to be stray > rocks. If you must move for mowing or weeding, please return > them to the exact spot from which they came. > > Before you remove or mow plants try to identify them. Lilacs, > roses, iris, and other flowers, trees, and shrubs may be antique > specimens planted by pioneers. It is OK to remove trees if they > pose a threat of getting big and harming nearby gravestones. > > Herbicides may be used in cemeteries, but be careful not to > spray on the markers. Protect them from over-spray with garbage > bags or dry cleaner bags. > > In most Oregon cemeteries [and elsewhere in the United States] > you will find examples of four common types of grave markers. > The following will help you identify each: > > Granite Gravestones: Granite is a very strong mineral used to > identify graves since about the turn of the [20th] century when > stone carvers developed tools to carve the lettering. It holds > a polish well and generally will have multi-colored grains. > > Marble Gravestones: Marble was used for most early grave markers > in Oregon [and in many other parts of the United States]. It is > generally white or blue-gray and often shows veining. Because it > is a soft mineral, early stone carvers often included beautiful > artwork on their marble grave monuments. > > White Bronze Markers: These monuments look to be a gray-green > color and often surprise folks when they realize they are metal > (zinc). If you are in doubt about whether you are looking at a > metal marker, tap it lightly. White bronze monuments are hollow. > > Wooden Markers: Early pioneers and settlers sometimes marked > graves with wooden crosses or slabs. Some contemporary graves > are also marked this way. Old wooden markers are hard to find > and harder to read. > > [This article first appeared in the OHCA LEDGER, Volume 9, Issue > 1 (June 2000) and is reprinted here with its kind permission and > that of the author. OHCA LEDGER is a publication of the Oregon > Historic Cemeteries Association, Inc., which is a nonprofit > corporation formed to educate the public about our cemeteries, > to build and maintain appropriate databases, and to protect our > cemeteries and their records.] > >