Cemetery Project

Cemetery Gravestone Cleaning Volunteer Project

The Middlebury Historical Society has periodic gatherings, depending on weather, at the Middlebury Cemetery, to clean the gravestones of the “forefathers and foremothers of the hamlet.”  

The two Middlebury cemeteries, “Middlebury Cemetery” and “Lake Elise Cemetery,” are privately owned and maintained by the Middlebury Cemetery Association, Inc. The historical society works in conjunction with the association, which shares funding for the cleaning supplies.

If you are interested in taking part in this special project, please contact Bob Rafford by emailing him at president@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org or Alice J. Demartino at secretary@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org.

OUR GRAVESTONE CLEANING PROJECT

Tom Cunningham, Gravestone Cleaning Co-leader, with Alice J. Demartino, instruct local volunteers in the art of stone cleaning.

Examples of our handiwork – stones shown before and after cleaning:

The Charles and Mary Stevens gravestone before and after cleaning
The Dr. Joseph and Margaret Hetzel Family Stone before and after cleaning

Our Veteran Grave Marker Project

In Conjunction with the Middlebury Cemetery Association, the Middlebury Historical Society has joined forces with the prodigious work by Dr. Ray Sullivan of Middlebury in identifying, collecting, locating and, most important, honoring the graves of Middlebury military veterans.

Here is an example of the veteran gravestone markers, manufactured of durable thermoplastic, that have been added to every veteran’s gravestone.

The Veteran Gravestone Marker project is been generously supported by donations from ION Bank, the Middlebury Lions Club, Garrett J. Moore, Ed St. John, Brian and Susan Henebry and Richarda R. Chovau.