Stone Church Cemetery Preservation Workshop Is Sunday
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WHEELING -- Headstones in need of attention at the Stone Church Cemetery will receive just that during a volunteer effort slated to take place Sunday in Elm Grove.
Peggy Neibergall, a Friends of Wheeling board member, said the effort is part of a nationwide event taking place with help from the Atlas Preservation Company of Connecticut. It is being co-hosted by Friends of Wheeling and Atlas Preservation with support from Wheeling Heritage.
Titled the "Stone Church Cemetery Workshop," the free event is one of 48 taking place in 48 states across the United States.
People are invited to participate during the workshop that will begin at 9 a.m. with a talk by Jonathan Appell, gravestone conservator from Atlas Preservation Co. Appell will instruct volunteers on how to use a product called D2, which is biodegradable and not harmful to plant life, to clean and preserve gravestones.
The cemetery is located at 142 Stone Church Road, Wheeling. Volunteers can work for as long or as short as they like during the event, which is slated to end at 3 p.m.
Neibergall said Appell will also be resetting headstones that have fallen over with help from the Stone Church Volunteer Fire Department and Foundation Solutions. Sand and gravel is being provided by the City of Wheeling, which owns the cemetery.
Appell will use an adhesive to put the stones back together, she noted.
"We're grateful for any volunteers of any age who would like to come out," Neibergall said.
She said members of Boy Scout Troop 6 are set to volunteer as well.
Neibergall noted the workshop can be valuable for people who also want to learn how to take care of their own family members' headstones. She said the D2 product can be used at home to clean brick and stone as well.
"This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and be a part of history," she said.
The cemetery is steeped with history as it is the resting place of 19 Revolutionary War soldiers as well as Lydia Boggs Shepherd and other Wheeling historical figures.
The soldiers' stones will be marked so people can choose to give them care first, though volunteers can pick any headstone in need of attention.
Volunteers are asked to wear comfortable clothing to work in and bring sunscreen, sunglasses or protective eyewear and gardening gloves. They may also bring a folding chair to sit and take breaks on.
Water and lunch will be provided. For more information, call Neibergall at 304-559-6953.
Additional parking will be available at a lot connected to the Padden Financial Services and James Taylor CPA office building.