Ross County Historical Society Hosting Cemetery Preservation Training in South Salem
SOUTH SALEM, Ohio — The Ross County Historical Society is inviting community members to participate in a hands-on cemetery preservation training program aimed at teaching proper techniques for protecting and restoring historic grave markers.
The program, titled “Education & Training for Cemetery Preservation: ‘Do No Harm’ Techniques / Hands-on Education,” will be held at South Salem Cemetery on Church Street in South Salem.
The two-day training is scheduled for:
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon
Instruction will be provided by Mark Morton of Gravestone Guardians of Ohio, who will teach participants the fundamentals of cemetery preservation.
The training will cover six basic steps considered essential to cemetery marker preservation:
Proper cleaning techniques
Repairing simple two-piece tablets and base sockets
Tablet setting
Mending damaged markers
Small multi-piece monument reconstruction
Infill instruction
The Ross County Historical Society said the training is designed to provide hands-on education while emphasizing preservation methods that avoid causing additional damage to historic monuments.
Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited to the first 15 participants who complete payment.
Registration costs:
Ross County Historical Society members: $25
Non-members: $50
The organization noted that membership costs $20 annually for individuals and $30 annually for households, which may make membership a lower-cost option for some participants.
Those interested in attending can register by contacting the Ross County Historical Society at 740-772-1936 or by email at info@rosscountyhistorical.org.
Participants must provide their name, membership status, phone number, email address, and payment information during registration.
The Ross County Historical Society said the program supports its ongoing mission of preserving cemetery markers and protecting the history found throughout Ross County’s historic burial grounds.
