Chillicothe — Part of a local cemetery got a good cleaning recently, as a training session in grave marker care by the Ross County Historical Society.
Their Ross County Memorial Committee offered “‘Do No Harm’ Cleaning Techniques / Hands-on Education” in a group of the oldest grave markers in Greenlawn Cemetery along Watt Street on May 9th, 2026.
In addition to identifying prominent local people for additional recognition, the Memorial Committee has been offering guidance on caring for and repairing graves and markers. The previous session was last summer, as recounted in the 2026 annual meeting.
John Purdum, a trustee of the Ross County Historical Society and chairman of the Memorial Committee, was part of the crew in Greenlawn Cemetery.
Purdum said they were learning from Eric Gunnoe of Chillicothe Monument & Hardy Memorials on proper cleaning using D/2 and “Wet and Forget” treatments, soft brushes, and plastic scrapers for lichen.
Purdum said they asked permission from the Scioto Township trustees for approval to do the work, but if any family members were known, they would ask permission from them.
He said said their next preservation training will be on September 23 and 24th in the South Salem Cemetery in Buckskin Township, and they will focus on repairing grave markers or carefully digging up and correcting tilted markers.
Purdum said it will probably be limited to 15 participants, at $25 for Historical Society members or $50 for nonmenbers. He said they will put out a notification in late June or July, and you can contact them for more information or to sign up.
Also hear Historical Society director Andy Hall explaining the new program by the society on “Marker Restoration” in the county’s cemeteries in the 2025 annual meeting.
The Ross County Historical Society has a website, and accounts for Tumblr, Pinterest, X / Twitter, Facebook, and BlueSky.
From the “What’s Going On” page of the Historical Society’s website:
“The Ross County Memorial Committee is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Ross County through the care and maintenance of its historic cemeteries. Working closely with local residents, the committee ensures that these important sites are respectfully maintained for future generations.
“In addition to ongoing cemetery preservation efforts, the committee offers community training opportunities. In June 2025, a well-attended workshop equipped participants with the skills needed to safely clean and maintain grave markers. Plans are already underway for future training sessions in 2026 or 2027.
“Each year, the committee honors a notable historical figure from Ross County by creating a detailed biography, installing a QR code at their grave site, and coordinating a thorough cleaning of their grave marker…”
The flyer for the past cleaning class, in May:
