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Gravestone Preservation Days at Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery

MASON CITY – Elmwood-St. Joseph’s History Walk and Adopt a Section program have raised awareness of the City’s heritage contained within the Cemetery.  People participating in these activities have noticed some of the older headstones, mausoleums and features need cleaning, straightening and/or repair.  This has prompted research and training on the best way to preserve and restore these historic treasures.

This summer Cemetery staff and volunteers will begin to take action toward the preservation and restoration of the gravestones in the original sections of the Cemetery. Training materials, equipment and supplies were purchased with some of the funds raised at last year’s history walk.  Volunteer Jo Beck and Manager Randy Opheim attended a workshop last fall and got hands-on training from Jonathan Appell, a nationally known monument conservator.

The first Gravestone Preservation Days are being planned to train people interested in assisting the Cemetery in preserving and restoring gravestones of the City’s forefathers.  Two sessions on cleaning and straightening stones will be held on Friday, June 22nd and Saturday, June 23rd from 9:00 am to noon.  With the proper training and supplies, these tasks are relatively easy and produce dramatic improvements in appearances.

A session on repairing broken gravestones will be held on Friday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  This involves cleaning and joining the broken pieces back together with special epoxy bonders.  Goodwill donations will be taken at the sessions to cover the cost of training and supplies.

Join us in this preserving an important part of Mason City’s heritage and explore the history that abounds within the City’s Cemetery grounds.  Contact the Cemetery office regarding your interest in attending the sessions at 641.421.3687 or Elmwood@masoncity.net.

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