If you have questions, would like to volunteer with CHS, or have items for the CHS Cares Closet please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.
HANDS ON HISTORY AT THE MUSEUM: The Museum is open for the season and this year has a new feature-a hands on history table. Visitors can engage in activities relating to historical events. We’re celebrating the 4th for July with an opportunity to make a five pointed star “in one snip.” Using a quill pen to write your name-quill pens were used to write a number of important documents, including the Declaration of Independence. You can also make a confetti popper. The Museum is open every Sunday from 2-4 pm and other times by appointment.
Twenty Mile Stream Rem
HEADSTONES & PERPETUAL CARE IN CAVENDISH CEMETERIES: We have a. lot of visitors during the summer and early fall who like to visit their ancestors graves. Consequently, CHS receives a number of comments about headstones and whose responsible for their upkeep. Perpetual care is often mentioned and doesn’t it cover headstones and grave markers?
Like most cemeteries across the country, Cavendish has had a perpetual care fund in place for many years. These monies generate income to cover maintenance in perpetuity, which includes grounds keeping, road repairs and general maintenance and upkeep of cemetery infrastructures. The funds are derived from sales of grave sites and are managed by the Cavendish Town Clerk.
NOTE: Cemetery maintenance does not cover upkeep or repair of monuments, headstones and grave markers. While the CHS’s Young Historians’ Preserve & Serve program includes grave stone cleaning, there are only a limited number of graves students can do each year, with the emphasis being older stones.
If you have a stone(s) you want to see cleaned in one of the Cavendish cemeteries, you can clean it yourself-using the Cemetery Conservators for United Standards (CCUS) or call a reputable company that follows CCUS.
Please know the “don’ts” in headstone cleaning as there are more “don’ts” than “dos”. There are many products being promoted for quick grave stone cleaning that can ultimately damage a stone. Based on studies, the best product for cleaning is a D/2 Biological Solution. Biocidal cleaners which contain quaternary ammonium compounds, like D/2 Biological Solution, Enviro Klean® BioWash®, Modec MDF-500 or other cleaners, are preferred products for cleaning marble headstones. DON’T USE BLEACH.
If you are interested in cleaning graves other than your own family, or have other questions about Cavendish cemeteries, please contact the Cavendish Sexton Bruce McEnaney at 802-226-7667.
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 30 (Saturday): 11th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2 CHS will be in the Gazebo on Svec Park (Proctorsville Green).
August (Sunday): Cavendish Gorge Walk. Date to be determined.
September 11 (Sunday): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, begins 2 pm at the Museum. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
October 9 (Sunday): Last Sunday the Museum is open
December (Date to be announced): Christmas Ghost Walk Proctorsville
Donations for CHS can be sent to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. Checks should be payable to the Cavendish Historical Society.
