Roselyn and Jim Wells, DeKalb County Genealogical Society, Indiana, presented at the Williams County Genealogical Society April meeting. Their presentation was about preserving and restoring cemeteries monuments. When planning to restore a cemetery, the first thing you must do is get permission from the owner of the cemetery (private, trustee, town, caretaker, association) in writing and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which determines the cemetery laws. You might need to get a permit. Next, get local groups to help volunteer and sometimes professional restorers and groups to help financially with the project. Help reeducate township employees about mowing, footstones, fieldstones, mortars marble, and limestone. Research the families because you might have to figure out where a stone should go if one has been moved from the site. Many tips were also given in the care and restoring of the markers. For example, never spray near a marker with weed killer. The markers absorb moisture from the ground and any chemical will be absorb by the stone and can ruin it. Don’t use wire wheels or wire brushes on the stones, just to name a few. Restoring a cemetery takes a lot of time and effort but the finished product is well worth the effort.

BANQUET: The 31st Annual Banquet will be held on the June 16, 2014 the Bryan Moose Lodge, Bryan, Ohio at 6:30pm. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, June 11, 2014 with Jane Huffman, 419-636-6734, Local History and Genealogy Annex extension. The cost is $18 per person. No tickets will be on sale at the door. The menu is Baked Swiss Steak, Lasagna, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Peas, Tossed Salad, Spice Cake, Brownies, and beverage.

The guest speaker is Eric Rotsinger. He has been portraying Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) as a first person living historian for over 10 years. He is an actual relative of Twain’s. Eric truly brings this historic author and personality to life!

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research. Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan Ohio 43506.

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