Maine Old Cemetery Association - Restoring Old Cemeteries

To encourage and support the preservation, maintenance, and study of Maine's old cemeteries and their records.

Restoring Old Cemeteries

by Hilda M. Fife, Theodore Brown and Lyle Littlefield
edited by Jonathan D. McKallip
published by Maine Old Cemetery Association
Updated 2005

Planning and Equipment

Choose a cemetery to work on; secure permission from owners of land or town officials.
Take pictures "before" starting work, "during," and "after" the restoration.
Clothing suitable for protection against heavy growth and sometimes poison ivy. Don't forget insect repellent, drinking water, lunch, other personal needs.

Q: Does MOCA restore old cemeteries?

A: While many MOCA members do such work as volunteers, MOCA itself doesn't offer these services except when projects are done as part of a MOCA workshop. See our WORKSHOPS page for details on how that works and to download the form if you want to apply.

We also post the names of some members with more extensive background in cleanings & repairs. You can contact any of them for further suggestions. See our list of ADVISORS for contact info.

Possible equipment

For general cleanup

Saws
Scythe or weed eater
Ax (for tree roots)
Grass clippers
Rakes, light weight
Pruning shears
Lawn mower
Weeding tool
Edging tool

For righting a stone

Probe for finding a stone
Hand trowel
Garden spade
Tripod, pulleys, and strap
Measuring tape
Burlap or plastic bags
Tamping device
Sand, gravel, bricks

For cleaning stones

Brushes: nylon or fiber bristle
Work gloves
Buckets
Water
Camp seat

Procedure

Record cemetery location, both road/map location and GPS location. Send this information to our Website Administrator who will update our online cemetery lookup database.
Measure the perimeter of the cemetery. Look for an old fence line.
Record inscriptions if not already done. Check MOCA Inscription Project.
Include measurements of tombstones and the material they are made of (wood, slate, marble, white bronze, gray/red granite, etc.).
Create a plot map where each stone was found; this is helpful in recovering very old cemeteries.
DO NOT discard fieldstones - they are probably markers.
Cut weeds and tall grass. Trim about stones.
Rake up clippings, leaves, trash; put in bags and remove bags.
Clear out brush, small "scrub" trees; remove. DO NOT burn trash, brush or leaves inside the cemetery.
Prune or cut trees in moderation.
Ax out any tree roots that are heaving or breaking stones.
Repair and straighten fences, rock walls, plot border stones.
Probe for fallen stones. If a probe goes down the same depth (3-10 inches) at several locations, there probably is a stone buried under the soil.
Level up stones by hand (first loosen dirt with trowel or spade), or by gently lifting foundation with a tripod, pulleys and straps.
Clean stones with brushes and water only. (For stubborn dirt and stains consult an authority on safe materials.) Check with the Association for Gravestone Studies for current recommended procedures.
Avoid high-pressure spraying, especially on old stones as details and surface finish may be washed away leaving it unprotected from the elements.
Reset stones, repair where necessary.
Obtain the advice of a local monument dealer; check references.
Fill in sunken graves and reseed after the cemetery has been mapped.
Provide for a maintenance program. Forming a "cemetery" or "Memorial Association" is necessary. See state laws.
Promote your project in the local news media.
Remember to send cemetery data including directions, locations, and/or transcription information to our Cemetery Records Committee and/or Web Resources Coordinator who will update our online cemetery lookup database.

Dedicated to the Preservation of Maine's Neglected Cemeteries since 1968.

Maine Old Cemetery Association, PO Box 641, Augusta, ME 04332-0641

MOCA is a non-profit Maine corporation and is tax exempt under the provisions
of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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