KC Cemetery Man

Productive day as I handcrafted the replacement slotted bases needed to reset the tablets of Solomon Adams and Charles Jinkins. Both tablets were stolen from Greenwick Cemetery over three decades ago….they’re almost home where they belong. stones

Absolutely spectacular colors on this Fall day as I help prep the historic Elmwood Cemetery (est.1872) for tomorrow’s Graveyard 5k. colors

Bedford-Chapel Cemetery-Saving and cleaning stones all day long on a beautiful Fall day.
Julia Ann Corder -August 15, 1889
“No pompous stone to thy name we raise. This humble stone bespeaks thy praise..”

Today a most amazing thing happened. By divine intervention a priest in St.Joseph, MO discovered two tablet markers which had been wrongfully and illegally removed from Greenwick Cemetery more than three decades ago. After being contacted by a 3rd party, I confirmed both markers do in fact, belong at Greenwick. In the coming days, I will do my best to reset both markers for Solomon Adams and Charles Jinkins in their proper and final resting places.

Visited this fascinating and haunting final resting place for over 100k souls in the Jewish ghetto section of Prague. The cemetery dates back to the 1500’s Reportedly, the burials were stacked and interred 10-12 deep, thus the mounding of this relatively small site. Truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. cemetery Prague

Visited the Habsburg (indoor) crypt in Vienna dating back to 1617. The final resting place for 149 souls which include (12) emperors, (19) empressses and queens. Each body is placed in a wooden coffin inside an incredibly ornate sarcophagus.

While in Budapest Hungary I had to visit this beautiful and massive cemetery. Really unique monuments and one of the world’s largest horse drawn coaches. Plus, they use QR codes to identify families at rest.

Few things are more rewarding than training others on the proper techniques for restoring monuments. Today, I was privileged to have trained a grand daughter (Breana Gray) and her grandfather (David Coats). This incredible duo is very passionate about doing their part to preserve the cemeteries in their rural community. Other citizens joined us as well as we repaired the tablet marker of Martial N. Martin who passed on March 6, 1855.

A couple months ago, a woman of advanced years approached me after one of my presentations. She said it was on her “bucket list” that she hoped I would personally reset and clean the monument of her late great grandfather, Armstrong Beattie. Mr. Beattie passed in 1894 and is at rest in the Bedford Chapel Cemetery in rural Andrew County, MO. This evening it will be my pleasure to print and mail her these photos confirming her “ bucket list” request has in fact been completed.

Great day to recover and restore a fractured tablet marker. Most importantly, we remember the life of Nancy Housman who departed this life on September 23, 1859 at the age of 23 years old. gravestones

Yesterday, I partnered with some hardworking young men who volunteer at the Union Cemetery (est. 1857) in KCMO. We used my tripod to reset a couple nice sized obelisk which had been down for decades. Especially pleased to have reset the beautiful zebra marble obelisk of Mary Frances Hovey. The volunteer’s affinity for cemetery preservation was certainly inspiring.

What an incredible day at Mount Mora. Over 100 aspiring cemeterians joined us and participated in the 48 State Tour workshop with the legendary Jonathan Appell from Atlas Preservation.

Nice write up on today’s 48 State Tour workshop at Mount Mora.

***UPDATE-Video interview is now included***

Touring preservationist group teaches cemetery upkeep in St. Joseph A preservation team that travels around the country visited the historic Mount Mora Cemetery on Wednesday to share knowledge with St. Joseph residents about repairing and taking care of gravestones.

For your listening enjoyment I’ll be a guest of Barry Birr on KFEQ 680 radio at 9:30am Monday (7/22). We will discuss cemetery preservation and the upcoming 48 State Tour workshop at Mount Mora Cemetery in St.Joseph,MO on 7/24. You can listen on-line www.680kfeq.com.

Visited two terrific early settler cemeteries in Northeast Ohio today. Several Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War veterans as well as ordinary citizens at rest at both incredibly well maintained sites.

It’s hard to beat the serenity of a rural cemetery from the late 1800’s. It’s been a breezy but productive day. Especially pleased to have completed the tablet repair and reset for the Irvine twins who were born on 10/5/1866.

Gorgeous day at Miriam Cemetery for a gravestone cleaning workshop. Over 25 aspiring cemeterians of all ages joined in the cause.

Honored to have recovered and restored the tablet of Sarah C. Lang who passed in 1886. This week I had the privilege of corresponding with her great, great granddaughter, Cheryl Lang. Hope she’s pleased with the results. Nothing beats preserving family history. Greenwick Cemetery (est. 1845).

Heading to Bethany,MO bright and early Saturday morning to lead a headstone cleaning workshop. Hope to see you there !

I hope the 33rd President would approve as I was ask to clean the family and individual markers of his parents in preparation for photography in an upcoming book.

Over four decades ago, I graduated from high school with this amazing group of ladies. Today, we gathered to clean headstones at the historic Mount Mora Cemetery. As they say, a good time was had by all.