Stones Of Time Headstone Care

06/06/2024

Due to surgery on my Achilles tendon yesterday, I will be out of commission for a few months. I hope to be able to do few headstones this fall.

05/26/2024

For Memorial Day I cleaned my first cousin twice removed Don Ayers’ headstone. He was in the U.S. Navy. 🇺🇸

05/20/2024

Another before and after of a headstone at Burget Cemetery. Not a drastic change but biological growth is coming off and it has lightened some. Before April 28 and after May 18.

05/20/2024

Trimmed the cemetery again today and hope it will remain nice for Memorial Day weekend.

05/20/2024

Adam Z. Burget. Born 24 April 1847 and passed away on 25 April 1865 at the age of 18. He served in the Civil War with Company D 13th Cavalry known as the Irish Dragoons. They were Calvary- infantry men who typically dismounted prior to fighting and were used as support troops. It appears he served for 3 years. Unsure about the cause of death but 220 men in the 13th died of disease.

First cleaned on April 28 with an updated photo from today, May 19.

05/19/2024

And finally on May 11 we were able to clean a very special headstone for a very nice lady on Mother’s Day weekend. My husband and daughter assisted. Our daughter took time to scrub each figurine, insist we take two home to repair and return, and make a new container for the beach bottle. This was a very special cleaning.

05/19/2024

Slow start to the cleaning season as the weather hasn’t been cooperative when we have available time. My first cleaning on May 3 was that of my maternal 3rd great grandparents, Michael and Sarah Grabill. I did this on their wedding anniversary! You will also see the headstone of a Susan Grabill leaning against their obelisk. The base is just off to the side. We plan to fix that at a later date. I’m still working to see how she’s connected to the family.

04/06/2024

The list has been released! I highly encourage anyone to attend if you have any interest in learning about headstone cleaning and restoration!

03/17/2024

Met with Mr. Allen Edwards yesterday to look at the Dilling Cemetery he’s restoring. There’s two stones we will help restore and another tablet that’s fractured with many missing pieces. Could have spent the whole afternoon talking about the history of the area with him! Looking forward to helping him as much as we can.

03/17/2024

Made some more progress yesterday at Burget Cemetery. Focused on getting all the remaining brush removed. Huge thanks to Nelson Martin who allowed us to dump the brush just up the farm one on his property! Discovered some more hidden stones. And developed a plan for the next trip out.

03/03/2024

Russell and I took time today to finish tackling the sumac tree and to finish chopping down some more grass. Many thanks to Jim from TL Long for coming with a chipper and dump truck. It made quick work of the trees! Below are some photos of how it was looking when we began and when we finished today.

02/26/2024

This gives a rough idea of the progress we made! A good bit done, a lot more to go!

02/24/2024

We thought this engraving and use of the corner of the headstone was really neat! Her husbands stone also has hearts! Can’t wait for warmer temps to start cleaning. And straighten and repair!

02/24/2024

Our second trip out to Burget Cemetery for a short two hours. But we got a lot done! You can see the headstones better. Marked some of the smaller hidden ones. Chopped some of those darn volunteer trees.

02/12/2024

So the weather was so nice on Saturday, 2/10/24, we got a jumpstart on whacking down the grass in two hours we got much more done than anticipated !

Burget Cemetery

02/09/2024

Excited to announce a Passion Project for Russell and I this year! We have been given permission to fix up the Burget Cemetery in rural Martinsburg. I grew up near this cemetery and over the years it has been taken care of at various times. It’s currently in pretty rough shape. Groundhog holes that could swallow you up! Excited to restore this little cemetery and pay our respects to those laid to rest. Below are photos of now and what once was.

01/22/2024

Even though winter is upon us and headstone cleaning supplies have been put away, the D2 biological solution that was applied will continue to work! The nearly pH neutral quaternary ammonium solution with surfactants are reactivated by the moisture of rain and snow. So that pesky biological growth in the porous stone is still being attacked. Looking forward to warmer days and to commence cleaning!

10/07/2023

Did a few veteran markers this late fall afternoon.The bronze markers only need to be cleaned with water and ivory dish soap. After they are dried I then applied Renaissance Microcrystaline Wax Polish. It’ll give it some shine but it will most importantly add protection from weather and air pollutants. Just go back in a year and wash and reapply. After awhile these markers may need repainted as they are not true bronze markers. That’s a skill to learn another year!

09/22/2023

Spoke with this gentleman for a half hour tonight. His passion to restore this cemetery is contagious. Excited to meet up with him to look at the cemetery once the corn is cut and we can access this hidden gem!

Since Blair County Genealogical Society President Jim Snyder began documenting the cemeteries of Blair County years ago, he has stirred up much community interest in the many historic burial sites in the area. The project was started by fellow society member Don Feathers in 2007, and the team, which...

09/10/2023

Today my husband helped me clean one headstone. My Uncle Bill passed away yesterday and we wanted to be sure his headstone was in top shape for his service. Some cleaning, trimming, push mowing, and flag placement made this look respectable again. He was an Army Veteran during Vietnam and achieved the rank of Sargent.

08/27/2023

Despite the heat my husband helped clean 7 veteran headstones today! Here are the before and after photos.

08/24/2023

One of the best parts of cleaning headstones is to simply take a step back and admire the beauty especially in the Cove!

08/24/2023

I never knew there was a memorial for the Indian School that was in Martinsburg at Fairview Cemetery. It was very humbling.

08/24/2023

I was able to get to Fairview Cemetery in Martinsburg today to clean two headstones for a lady who reached out. They have a shine back to them and no more lichen and other growth. Best thing is the D2 biological solution will continue to work for the next 6 months or more!

Thank you again for reaching out!

08/18/2023

We made it in the local newspaper! Morrison’s Cove Herald!

08/17/2023

Some may be wondering why there has been such a focus on cleaning the veteran headstones at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The reason is that I am coordinating a ceremony for Wreaths Across America at Mount Pleasant for this year on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12 noon. Below is the official website. There is also a page titled, Wreaths Aross America - Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Feel free to follow along, sign up to volunteer, sponsor a wreath or just come and enjoy the ceremony with us!

Wreaths Across America ("WAA") coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies every December to "Remember, Honor, and Teach" about the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. Please check out this page to learn how you can help by sponsoring Veterans Remembrance Wreaths or by joining us on Decembe...

08/13/2023

The second photo shows all the growth I removed in the lettering with my little bamboo skewer!