Graveyard Guru 1/20/2011

Cemetery Preservation & Restoration
by Stephanie Lincecum

Probably the most common question I get asked regarding cemeteries is how to “save” one. That is followed closely by how to preserve one and how to restore one. It seems people tend to use those words of save, preserve, and restore interchangeably when in the context of cemeteries.


At the risk of being rudimentary, here is how these words are defined:

- Save is to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss;

- Preserve is to keep alive or in existence; make lasting; and

- Restore is to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition.

Though closely related, there are slight differences. So my response usually includes a few basic options, but also asks a question in return -- what exactly do you want to do? Are you interested in documentation and preservation, are you interested in revitalization and maintenance, or are you interested in restoration? Maybe a combination of all of the above.

Several years ago Christine Van Voorhies, as a member of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, wrote a book giving guidance on the protection of cemeteries. In Grave Intentions: A Comprehensive Guide to Preserving Historic Cemeteries in Georgia, she outlines the process in four parts: determining cemetery ownership, recording a cemetery, restoring a cemetery, and protecting a cemetery.

Cemetery Ownership
This is one of the most important questions to be answered when considering any cemetery preservation effort. The landowner’s permission should be obtained before going onto the property, even if the cemetery appears to be abandoned or in ruins. Ms. Van Voohries points out something very important to note when dealing with this topic: “In the past, when land was sold, the deeds often included an express reservation of land for burial purposes, stating that a family’s farm or plantation property was being sold ‘except one acre reserved for the family graveyard’ or where persons were already buried. Notations on plats may have also indicated the existence of Indian or slave burials. Later deeds and plats may have inadvertently omitted this information. However, once such an express reservation has been given, it is thereafter considered to be valid and in effect regardless of whether or nor the current property deed specifically mentions the cemetery.”

Fighting with a landowner will not help your case, however. Working together with them is obviously the way to go.

If you are interested in protecting a private cemetery in which you do not have ancestors, “then the heirs of people buried there must be consulted and their permission granted before any activity on the property is undertaken.”

In the case of a church cemetery, land ownership still is key. “If the congregation died out without any transfer of memberships or land, then the heirs of the last members would hold the easement rights” [to the cemetery].

A city cemetery is the responsibility of the city government unless assigned elsewhere, such as a historical society. Even in this case, it is still necessary to get permission from the heirs before repairing or cleaning up a family’s lot. It is not necessary that all living descendants be located, but proof that a reasonable search was made is.

If a cemetery in need is considered abandoned, you may be able to approach local governing authorities to request that the maintenance and protection of the cemetery be taken over. You will need to check the laws in your state. In Georgia, for example, the law states an abandoned cemetery means “a cemetery which shows signs of neglect including, without limitation, the unchecked growth of vegetation, repeated and unchecked acts of vandalism, or the disintegration of grave markers or boundaries and for which no person can be found who is legally responsible and financially capable of the upkeep of such cemetery.” Furthermore, in the state of Georgia, “Counties…and municipalities…are authorized, jointly and severally, to preserve and protect any abandoned cemetery or any burial ground which the county or municipality determines has been abandoned or is not being maintained by the person who is legally responsible for its upkeep, whether or not that person is financially capable of doing so, to expend public money in connection therewith…and to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire any interest in land necessary for that purpose.”

Recording a Cemetery
This can mean several different things. One is simply having the geographical location of the cemetery marked on maps and recorded in public records. Or you may be as detailed as desired by recording the layout, the number of graves, and their alignment as well as transcribing genealogical and/or all readable information on the tombstones, and any additional decorations to the stone or grave site. Photographs and/or video may also be employed. In fact, it is recommended.

Ms. Van Voohries notes the importance of having the cemetery recorded in public records: “There are several reasons for this. First, you can help other interested researchers use the data you have gathered. Second, by recording the cemetery in public records…you establish public knowledge of that cemetery for legal purposes, thereby bringing it under the protection of Georgia law.” Again, you may need to check the laws of your state.

Restoring a Cemetery
“Any cemetery worthy of restoration deserves a good plan for its refurbishment. The most effective master plans are those developed with input from the individuals interested in and authorized to care for the cemetery.” Ms. Van Voohries goes on to name five items the plan should include:

1. Performing an initial assessment of the cemetery’s condition before any work is done as well as making a list of cleanup and repair needs.

2. Outlining which portion of the project requires professional expertise.

3. Outlining what can be done by untrained volunteers.

4. Fundraising strategies.

5. Contacting descendants.

A restoration effort is definitely a job that requires more than one person. Finding other groups that have been through the process can help you learn the ropes faster. Figuring out who will be responsible for maintaining the cemetery in the future also needs to be determined, as it should be carried on indefinitely, will cost money, and require labor.

If stones within the cemetery require repair, a well-respected outside organization may need to be employed. One such organization is the Chicora Foundation, based in Columbia, South Carolina. They can be found on the web at www.chicora.org . A master gardener’s help might also be needed when dealing with landscaping.

Knowledge of the burial customs associated with the cemetery and its time frame should also most surely be obtained. “If you are cleaning up an old, neglected cemetery, broken crockery or random seashells may look like debris that should be cleaned off a grave and thrown away. However…these kinds of items may have been purposefully put there and ought to be left in place.”

Protecting a Cemetery
“Maintenance of a cemetery requires a substantial commitment from the people who are interested in its care.” Christine Van Voohries states two main issues to consider: the long-term responsibility for actual physical maintenance, and the continuing need for funding to pay for such maintenance. Long range plans for a cemetery are just as important as the initial cleanup and restoration. Both Ms. Van Voohries and the Chicora foundation believe cemeteries face dramatic pressures from development, from abandonment and decay, from nature, and from vandals. A local historical society or other like-minded group might be a good candidate for long-term preservation.

Routine inspections of the cemetery should be conducted. Simply being a regular presence might deter vandals. You may want to meet with local law enforcement to let them know of the restoration effort and request their advice about keeping the cemetery safe. They might even be willing to add it to their scheduled patrols.

Commercial and residential development around the cemetery should also be monitored. Public deed and tax records might not indicate the cemetery’s presence, and a developer might not know it even exists. If informing the developer of the cemetery does not result in them treating the situation properly, according to your state’s laws, publicity is always an avenue to try. Contacting a local newspaper can get the greater community involved in helping protect the cemetery.

Whether your intentions are to simply document a forgotten local cemetery, or your ambitions seem a bit more grand, all are appreciated and important to those of us with the desire to save, preserve, and restore cemeteries and other links to the past. Using the guidelines provided by Christine Van Voohries will surely put you on the right path.
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Stephanie Lincecum is an amateur historian, avid reader, genealogist, and budding photographer. She has been researching her family history for more than thirteen years and during that time discovered her true passion for cemeteries. Stephanie is the author of three cemetery blogs, including Southern Graves at http://blog.southerngraves.net . It chronicles her journey and findings through cemetery research in the southern United States. Her constant goal is to preserve the past, one tombstone at a time.