For centuries, cemeteries have been the place to honor lost loved ones, remember the history of a town and quietly reflect.
Over time, however, the natural wear of regular visitors, years of weather conditions, and (in some cases) lack of resources to maintain the grounds, can lead to a need for cemetery restoration services.
This was the case for Newbury Township’s four local cemeteries: Munn Cemetery, Newbury Center Cemetery, South Newbury Cemetery and Morton Cemetery. Continue reading to learn how our sister company, Milano Stone & Restoration, spearheaded a multi-phased restoration project for Newbury Township.
Cemetery restoration services can include a number of different activities and often vary by project. At Milano Stone & Restoration, we regularly offer the following cemetery restoration services:
The Newbury Township collection of cemeteries primarily required pouring new foundations, fixing broken headstones and resetting tipping memorials. All of these activities were uncovered during an initial walk-through and audit of the cemeteries.
>> Related Resource: The Cemetery Restoration Process, Step-by-Step
Full-scale cemetery restoration projects are often large investments that cities, communities and private entities must budget for. Depending on the amount of cemeteries and size of each involved, there could be a number of restoration activities required for the project, totaling anywhere from $5,000 to $250,000.
To assess all of Newbury Township’s cemetery restoration needs, Milano Stone & Restoration met on-site with a township trustee. The team assessed all four cemeteries, documenting any apparent issues, including broken headstones, tipping headstones, failing foundations and overgrown landscaping.
Once the audit was complete, the Stone & Restoration team worked with Newbury Township to strategically plan the work that needed done, given the township’s budget and priorities. The initial audit and conversations led to a phased restoration approach.
>> Related Resource: Why You Should Invest in Cemetery Restoration
In the first several phases of restoration work, Milano Stone & Restoration focused on pulling out and replacing failed monument foundations, fixing broken bases, reinstalling 19th century marble stones and resetting tablets on sandstone bases. The township’s active cemeteries were prioritized first, as they still had frequent visitors and new headstones installed.
Each year, Milano Stone & Restoration rotated to a new cemetery so that each of Newbury Township’s four cemeteries were gradually improved. The final phases of the project focused on adding new foundations, releveling, and reattaching pieces of older monuments and headstones.
Restoring Newbury Township’s cemeteries in phases enabled the township and Milano Stone & Restoration to:
After ten phases, Newbury Township’s cemeteries look as they did when the headstones were orginally placed. All monuments are also properly upright, safe and secure for the next 100 years, ultimately reducing the risk of unexpected injuries.
>> Related Resource: How Cemetery Restoration Services Revived a Mid-1700s Cemetery to Near-Original Condition
There are a number of benefits when working with a national cemetery restoration provider , like Milano Stone & Restoration, right in your own backyard. Here are some of them.
>> Related Resource: 4 Factors to Look For in a Northeast Ohio Cemetery Restoration Service Provider
Milano Stone & Restoration has over 50 years of experience in stoneworking and memorial restoration and cleaning. We are one of the few stonework providers in Ohio that offer full cemetery restoration services and have worked with a variety of cemeteries and community parks to restore their headstones and monuments back to near-original condition. Take the first step to restore your community’s cemetery by contacting our team today.