Preservation Services
Graveyard monuments are history living through art. These are not just stones. They are everlasting memories and we are their stewards. Some grave markers are the only documentation proving that a person ever existed. It is our duty to protect them.
Services Offered
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Cleaning
A great deal of care needs to be taken when cleaning a grave marker. Considerations include:
Herman Jacob Meyer Jr., Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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Basic Preservation and Restoration
Grave stones are not immune to the elements. Basic preservation may include:
Anne Dehning, Emmanuel Evangelical Cemetery, Cass Co., NE
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Pricing
Cleaning |
Preservation |
$25 per hour, billed in quarter hour increments |
$50 per hour plus cost of materials, billed in quarter hour increments |
A travel allowance of $0.45 per mile will be applied for cemeteries more than 50 miles* outside of Omaha, NE.
A housing allowance will be applied for cemeteries more than 100 miles outside of Omaha, NE.
A housing allowance will be applied for cemeteries more than 100 miles outside of Omaha, NE.
White bronze monument, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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We are currently offering 2 free basic restoration services to any local cemeteries.*
To to take advantage of this offer, please contact us by email or by phone. info@historywalksnebraska.com or (816) 616-9162 *this offer valid to any cemetery within 100 miles of Omaha, NE Travel allowance is waived with this offer |
Baby Winston, Bohemian Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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Qualifications
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There is no School of Cemetery Cleaning and Preservation. We are lucky to have a National Center of Preservation Training and Technology that may not be specific to cemetery needs, but they definitely have valuable information available for anyone wanting to learn. There are also many cemetery preservationists throughout the country (and the world) that are kind enough to share the knowledge they have gained from their experiences. These organizations and business' provide guidance and information on how to properly care for grave markers.
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Cemetery Preservation Workshop, Mt. Hope Cemetery, Urbana, IL
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They also provide warnings against common pitfalls and provide explanations. - such as, why bleach eats away the gravestone, why grave markers tend to lean towards the east, and how to lift a thousand pound stone. We have studied the teachings of our predecessors at great length, but nothing can compare to hands-on experience.
We have cleaned hundreds of stones over the last 20 years and it is always gratifying to see those monuments come back to life. We often revisit stones cleaned years ago to assess their condition. We are happy to report they are all doing just fine.
Shannon Lewis is certified in basic cemetery preservation, including resetting grave stones and repairing cracks and breaks. Over the past two seasons we have worked on many grave marker preservation projects and are learning and growing with every experience.
Shannon Lewis is certified in basic cemetery preservation, including resetting grave stones and repairing cracks and breaks. Over the past two seasons we have worked on many grave marker preservation projects and are learning and growing with every experience.
| basicpreservationcertification.pdf |
Our education is far from over and we will continue to be an active member of the cemetery preservation and restoration community. However, the best way to learn is to do, so we dig the cemetery.
Resources
Title |
Content |
Location |
Headstones and Markers |
Information on how to obtain a military marker for a deceased veteran |
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Saving Pieces of History: Cemetery Care and Gravestone Repair by John C. Heider with Paula Pickrel and Glenda Ziegler |
A guidebook to cemetery care and restoration |
Purchased from RIP L.T.D. while on site in Urbana, IL |
Eight Tips for Resetting Headstones |
Eight Tips for Resetting Headstones |