Fish Creek, Wis. (June 9, 2023) – Join Gibraltar Historical Association to discover the best practices for headstone care and find what lies beneath the moss, lichens, and debris. The program is a part of Heritage Alliance History Days.
Please meet us at Juddville Cemetery (8683 Gibraltar Bluff Road, Fish Creek) a place that can easily be missed. Our research shows approximately 60 grave sites here. It was established in 1878, and burials date back to as early as 1865. Last names include Mapes, Judds, Anderson, Burr, Ellis, Fairchild, Fish, Gauger, Glenn, Graham, Hilcox, Howard, Johnson, McSweeny, Minard, Moses, Robertoy, Rowin, Runquist, and VanBramer.
Our presentation will include “Headstone Care” and those who are buried here. We will show the use of the proper tools and cleaning products, tips on cemetery etiquette, and who owns the headstones. Should your family be a descendant that knows more about any of the names listed, we would love to make a connection.
Discovering old headstones leads to wanting to clean up the area like pulling weeds, removing overgrown grasses, and yes, cleaning up the stones. What seems like a simple and easy task is more involved than you might think. Listen and view a demonstration; we will show a simple way to care for the headstones of early settlers from the Juddville area of Gibraltar.
Remember, the stone you are about to clean up could easily be 100-150 years old. Do you know its composition? Marble, Granite? Sandstone? Imagine taking bleach to a sandstone headstone and watching it literally dissolve before your eyes. Do not let that happen!
The history of each headstone is often the most valuable piece of information a descendant or historian may have to verify timelines and timestamps. Where was the person buried, what date and year, and was another family member buried there? This is the beginning of a solid start to your family’s lineage. Saving these stones is vital to gather reliable information from our past. It is another step in clarifying research information in legal documents, church records, and diaries.
Gibraltar Historical Association and Alexander Noble House are dedicated to preserving the past of Gibraltar’s Township and sharing our discoveries with residents and visitors. Please join us and discover the why? the how? and the who of caring for and learning from our pioneer cemeteries.
Contact: noblehousefc@gmail.com or 920-868-2091