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Have you ever visited a cemetery only to find your ancestors’ headstones covered with dirt and lichens making the text almost illegible? Lichens can also damage the gravestone itself, and with time can irreparably fragment the gravestone’s surface. Unfortunately, you showed up unprepared to do anything about it.

Charlie Barnette of the Historical Society of Washington County brings his skills as a cemetery preservationist to Abingdon’s historic Sinking Spring Cemetery, dating to 1776, for a free workshop during the Virginia Highlands Festival. He’s been cleaning, resetting and documenting headstones in and around Washington County for the past two decades. Charlie will share his tips and answer your questions about the best methods and equipment to use so you can bring old headstones back to life without causing more damage.

Comfortable walking shoes and a hat are recommended. Sponsored by the Historical Society of Washington County VA, Inc.