Published: April 26, 2008 07:49 pm            

GENEOLOGY: Cemetery Association to conduct gravestone workshop

TERRE HAUTE — The Hixon Cemetery Association of Parke County will conduct a one-day gravestone restoration workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7. The workshop will consist of a classroom session in which gravestone cleaning and restoration techniques will be discussed, followed by hands-on experience in a cemetery working with actual gravestones.

The classroom portion of the day will take place at the Parke County Learning Center in Rockville. Topics to be covered will be an overview of state laws that apply to cemeteries, how to research and locate cemeteries, how to photograph and transcribe gravestones, and techniques to clean, repair, and restore gravestones.

Following the classroom segment, the group will then go to the Hixon Cemetery in Parke County, located about 2 miles from Mecca, and will continue the learning experience in the field by cleaning and restoring gravestones. There will also be a demonstration using a tripod lift for moving large stones and a demonstration on how to cast a new slotted base for old upright stones.

The instructor for the class will be Jessica Felix, a Roachdale woman with degrees in art education and fine arts from Purdue University and Indiana Wesleyan University. She has five years experience in restoring old gravestones, which includes managing the restoration of seven cemeteries in Hendricks County, Indiana.

The workshop enrollment will be limited to 25 persons. The cost for the day is $15 for Hixon Cemetery Association members and $20 for non-members. For more information, call (765)569-5935, e-mail mblewman@yahoo.com; to register, send your check to the Hixon Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 525, Montezuma, IN 47862.

        

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