Gravestone Restoration Workshop

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries will host a gravestone restoration workshop  under the direction of cemetery historian and preservationist, Kelly Grimaldi.

Join us on September 17, 2022

10am – 1:00pm

St. Agnes Cemetery: 48 Cemetery Ave. Menands, NY 12204

There is a $20 materials fee due on the morning of class.  Pre-registration is required. 

What is a stone document and where can you find them?  In a cemetery!  Old gravestones, often serve as the only documentation of a life lived long ago.  It is important that they be preserved.  The more people that know how to preserve them safely and properly, the better. That is why I am hosting another gravestone restoration workshop in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands on September 17^th .  We will learn how to properly clean and make minor repairs on stones dating from the 1800s to early 1900s using mortar, setting compound and epoxy.  You will be able to put that knowledge to good use in other cemeteries where there are stones in disrepair.  Well-meaning people have done more harm than good in their attempt to clean and fix up old gravestones.  For example, using bleach to whiten a stone is a cleaning method found on the internet, but it is among the worst things you can do!  Household bleach contains salts that eat away marble, limestone, and sandstone making them illegible.

This is a hands-on workshop.  Participants will need to dress appropriately to work outside. The cleaning solution and brushes will be provided. Please bring waterproof gloves and a bucket or dishpan to hold rinse water.

Working on old gravestones is a fun and relaxing way to spend a few hours on the grounds of a beautiful Victorian era cemetery! Many stones in the cemetery date back to the mid-19th century. Over the decades they have blackened with pollutants and suffer the unsightly and damaging impact of lichen, mold, and moss. With a little effort and knowledge, you can ensure memorials to long departed souls are preserved for many more years to come.

Please contact Kelly Grimaldi to register, 518-350-7679 or via email at [email protected].