Preserving Historic Cemeteries
September 12, 13 and 14
Windsor, Vermont
Join Historian and AGS President Dennis Montagna, from the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service, Conservator and AGS Board Member Francis Millerfrom Conserve Art, based in Hamden, Connecticut, and Landscape Architect Brian Post, executive director of The Stone Trust, for their presentations on best practices for preserving historic cemetery landscapes and their monuments.
The three will give introductory public lectures on Thursday evening, followed on Friday and Saturday with day-long classroom and field sessions that will consider the many interrelated aspects of Cemetery Preservation. Attendees will learn about how to plan a cemetery preservation project, they’ll come to better understand the various stone types used for cemetery monuments, and how to assess their conditions and preservation needs. They’ll also learn about best practices in stone and landscape preservation treatments.
Who will benefit? Cemetery commissioners, historic preservation commissioners, masons, architects, engineers, town road and maintenance crew members, municipal officials, cemetery sextons,and cemetery and gravestone enthusiasts. You may register for one or all three programs.
Thursday, September 12, 6:30 – 9:30 pm Free and Open to all. Windsor Welcome Center, 3 Railroad Avenue, Windsor, Vermont- Illustrated talks by each of our three speakers will introduce attendees to the history of cemetery landscapes and their preservation.
Friday, September 13, 9 am – 5 pm Classroom and onsite training sessions at Old South Cemetery will examine the various stones and other materials used in cemeteries, how they weather over time, how to assess their preservation needs, how to treat them, and how to manage the trees and turf we find in cemetery landscapes.A $20 fee covers lunch and materials.
Saturday, September 14, 9 am -4 pm Hands on training and demonstrations in stone and landscape preservation. Instructors will focus on resetting fallen, broken, and other at-risk monuments, stone cleaning, and best practices in landscape maintenance. A $20 fee covers lunch and materials. Attendance at this session is limited.
Please register by September 9, close of business. Scholarship assistance may be available for the day-long programs. Register by phoning 802-674-6752 or via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cemetery-stone-conservation-workshops-tickets-68612581077 These programs are held in venues accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact us if we may assist you with accommodations such as large print materials or interpretation. The terrain in the cemetery is uneven. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
This workshop is made possible by a grant from the US National Park Service to the Certified Local Government Program administered by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation awarded to the Town of Windsor and Historic Windsor, Inc. Matching and In-kind funds and services are provided by the Town of Windsor, Historic Windsor, Inc., The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, the National Park Service’s Monument Research & Preservation Program, based in the Northeast Regional Office in Philadelphia. Additional funding is provided by The Landmann Family fund at the Vermont community Foundations and an anonymous donor. Special thanks to the Windsor Vermont Historical Association and Saint-Gaudens NHP for support and publicity assistance as well.
This program is produced by Historic Windsor, Inc. and its Preservation Education Institute (HWIPEI). The Windsor, Vermont based nonprofit 501C3 conducts training in historic preservation skills, technology and methodology for building professionals and others.
For more information, please email peihwi@gmail.com or call 802.674.6752