Please pass the word along. Bring friends, family members, even scout troops to this wonderful event. The re-enactors, attired in period costumes, will be speaking about their lives, as well as the history of New Brunswick and our nation spanning the late 1770′s until about the early 1900′s.

Throughout the year, a mixed group of graduate and undergraduate had worked on this Preservation Plan.

You might remember that 75% of the corresponding Preservation Plan for our buildings was funded with $50,000 planning grant from the NJ Historic Trust. This gives you an idea how expensive these kinds of plans are – even if the Preservation Plan for our cemetery is substantially shorter. Now the students presented their findings to a public audience in a very involved PowerPoint presentation. They started by delineating the existing conditions of the cemetery. The results were compiled in a digital database, easy to store, expand and share with others in years to come. It includes pictures of our grave stones – an irreplaceable documentation of the current status quo.

Following this, the plan entailed treatment recommendations, beginning with a chart of priorities and concluding with a cost estimate for restoration. Finally, there were the treatment reports. Again, at no cost to the church, the students had cleaned 46 grave markers with an architectural antimicrobial. They had also repaired two grave markers that had broken apart.

It was an evening of interesting speeches, much appreciation for our history, and a good fruit punch in the end. A great thank-you goes to Erie Beemsterboer who presented Christine Miller Cruiess with one of her beautiful handmade quilts. We also thank Ethel Salamone, Joan Fekete and Pastor Susan for the wonderful reception afterwards.

Christine Miller Cruiess, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers, will be leading a field school in the Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies Program (CHAPS). The goal of the field school is two-fold. First, the students will conduct a conditions assessment that will inform a Preservation Plan for the cemetery, following the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office’s Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans. The preservation plan for the site will be heavily informed by students’ work during the Spring 2010 term, the pre-requisite course for the field school. During the Spring 2010 term, the students completed archival research on the cemetery and those interred there, research into the materials in the cemetery, research into different conservation methods and techniques that conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and a survey form and glossary to document the current conditions of each individual grave marker in the cemetery. The preservation plan will build upon the students’ previous work and create a prioritized treatment plan for the treatment of the entire cemetery site.

The second goal of the course will be comprised on a pilot implementation program where students will gain hands-on experience completing conservation treatments. The students will be supervised by two conservators who have extensive experience in outdoor monument and cemetery conservation (resumes available upon request). In summary, the proposed conservation treatments will include:

• Cleaning grave markers with D/2 (available from Cathedral Stone), an architectural antimicrobial.
• Repairing breaks in sandstone and marble markers using a structural epoxy.
• Repointing cracks and joints in grave markers using a lime-based mortar for marble markers and using a Jahn Patching mortar (available from Cathedral Stone) for repairing sandstone markers.
• Injection grouting delaminations in sandstone using a grout with water, lime, silica micro-balloons, and a fine silica sand.
• Resetting markers with proper alignment.

All treatments will conform with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

During the month of June, I gave seven such tours. Among the participants were guests from the RCA Archives, members of the New Brunswick court system, tourists, and the youth of two scout troops.

The children planted flags at the graves of veterans of the Revolution. They also helped serve at the House of Manna. Together, we climbed the steeple and marveled at the clock.

These tours provide great moments, especially for children. They connect them with the surrounding community, the historical heritage of our town and congregation, and with the sacrifices of the American Revolution.

Should you, dear reader, be interested on going on a tour or desire to set one up for another group, please call our church office.