Historic Cemetery Gravestones, Memorials and Stonework Restoration Workshop

The Mt. Zion – Female Union Band Society Historic Cemeteries Memorial Park is hosting Jon Appel as he conducts a Workshop on “How to restore and perform different types of repairs for common problems associated with gravestones, monuments, and stonework”. This event is free and open to the public. ​The Workshop will include:

-Discussion on historic preservation with a focus on cemetery masonry, gravestones, and memorials
-A ‘walk and talk’ tour, visually surveying some of the cemeteries’ most historic gravestones and monuments which are in need of repair
-Gravestone and memorial cleaning discussions and demonstrations (the safe and effective removal of biological activity, graffiti, and rust and lime/calcium staining)
-Workshop participants are encouraged to adopt a gravestone and perform the cleaning process

If practical, the most common conservation-restoration treatments will be demonstrated:

-Join a fractured tablet
-Raise and/or level a badly leaning, sunken, or fallen tablet stone
-Reset and join elements of a multiple piece monument
-Problems associated with the use of portland cement
-Historic pointing mortars, formulations, applications, curing
(If time allows) A stone lifting tripod will be constructed and demonstrated

Lunch will be provided. For more information on the Workshop, registration, and to view videos of Jon Appel’s important work on the “Knight’s Tomb” at the Jamestown, VA village, please visit www.mtzion-fubs.org

The Tour, training workshops, and supplies are made possible by these sponsors: Atlas Preservation, D/2 Biological Solution, Graffiti Solutions, Magnolia Brush, ZippKool Gear, Smith Sprayers, and Wolverine Tools.