Gravestone Restoration

We can all work to preserve our historic cemeteries. A cemetery that is well-maintained honors the memory of the people buried there, and is also less inviting to potential vandals. Many sites need general clean up and mowing to prevent trees and shrubs from harming the stones. Under the supervision of a trained professional, volunteers can also do much of the cleaning, resetting and repairing of gravestones.

Learn about the basic guidelines of cemetery restoration here.

Jess Davis is a teacher living in Brownfield, Maine and has been restoring cemeteries and gravestones for over 20 years. She follows best practices set out by the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS).

Recent project cemeteries:

Gravestone repair examples:

  • Aluminum braces can be used on broken gravestones that are not strong enough for epoxy. The braces clamp to the sides of the stone and are completely removable.
  • The gravestone braces are made from aluminum L-stock and stainless steel bolts. The bolts go through the aluminum, not the stone.
  • This gravestone is from a previously neglected cemetery that has recently been restored. This photograph shows the pieces as they were found in the cemetery.
  • This photo shows the gravestone after repairs and resetting.  The pieces were cleaned, joined with a special epoxy and the missing areas resculpted in stone dust mortar.
  • This gravestone was shattered when a car drove through the cemetery fence.  This photograph shows the pieces dry-fit after having been meticulously gathered and cleaned.
  • The pieces were joined using special epoxy and the voids were filled with a stone-dust mortar that was tinted and carved while wet to reproduce the missing portions of the stone. Since the slotted base that once held the stone was also broken, a new one was cast and the stone was set in it using sand mortar.

  • Whole cemeteries are also restored.  This shows a row of gravestones that had fallen and been repeatedly run over by a lawnmower. 
  • The stones were repaired and reset in their original positions.
  • Unfortunately, gravestones are often removed from their original locations and piled against fences or other stones.
    This small family plot was destroyed by logging but was restored with the help of descendants.
  • Fortunately many of the underground bases remained and the stones could be repaired and reset where they belonged.