Hands On Workshop | Preserving Old Cemetery Markers

Presenter: William Bray

Location: Harrison City Presbyterian Cemetery

Address: Near 2090 Harrison Avenue, Jeannette PA

Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024

Time: 9 a.m.

Fee is FREE

The Westmoreland Historical Society is hosting a hands-on workshop about cleaning, preserving, and restoring old cemetery markers.

William Bray was the recipient of the 2023 Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Award. He earned this award through his tireless efforts to restore old cemetery markers. Bill became concerned about the poor condition of veterans’ markers in the historic Brush Creek Assc. Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery in N. Huntingdon Twp. He studied how to repair cemetery markers and put into action a method to replace the headstones of veterans buried in the cemetery if they were badly damaged or missing. Now he is a local expert on preserving, restoring, and replacing cemetery markers.

Participants should bring a lawn chair, soft brush, and a bucket to help with the cleaning process after Bill demonstrates proper techniques. Families and historic groups can use these skills to preserve other cemetery markers, with permission of course. Bill may also be replacing some markers with equipment that he designed for this purpose.

Attendees should park across the road from the cemetery in the parking lot of PA State Rep George Dunbar’s office.