An Interview: Restoring Historical Tombs

Why It Is Important To Preserve Historical Cemeteries, Tombs and Burial Grounds...

By Jeffrey Pipes Guice

With all the beautiful architecture and historical cemeteries scattered strategically across New Orleans, it can be easy to forget why is so vitally important that we regularly maintain and preserve our family’s cemeteries, tombs and burial grounds. 

Even still, these cemeteries are important to everyday New Orleans life and culture, and what's more, they're present in nearly every community.

Why Is It Important To Preserve Your Family’s Tomb? 

In search of the answers, and to learn about the history of tomb preservation, we spent an afternoon with local tomb preservation expert Michelle Stanard Duhon, owner of Bayou Preservation, one of the leading authorities on New Orleans cemeteries and family tomb preservation.

Jeffrey Pipes Guice: “Welcome, Michelle, and thank you for taking some time out of your busy day to discuss the history of tomb preservation and why it’s so important for old New Orleans families to preserve the tombs they have inherited. How did you get started in preserving historical family tombs?”

Michelle Stanard Duhon: Truthfully I was introduced to cemetery preservation as a kind of primer or practice-ground for architectural preservation. The cemeteries provided great learning-spaces for aspiring preservationists like myself to get hands-on preservation experience with masonry, plaster, stone, and even cast iron preservation. I absolutely loved the time I got to spend working or "practicing" in the cemeteries as a student, so when I moved to New Orleans permanently in 2010 I started a business that offered cemetery preservation as a service. 

Guice: “If you think about it, every family tomb is historical in its own right. While some tombs are historical as far as the significant roles played by the deceased, relative to wars, or politics, or business, or philanthropic endeavors, nearly every single tomb is indeed historical in the sense of someone’s family heritage and lineage. Each tomb tells a unique story, and each story makes up the cultural fabric of our city, and state and ultimately the entire country. In your world of preservation, how do you approach a family or estate when you have noticed that their family tomb is in need of repairs or a more extensive preservation? Do you approach them or do they actually approach you?”

Duhon: I don't think we have ever approached a family or tomb owner - they always find us. It's funny because while we know that the primary reason most people want to preserve their historic tomb is because it holds their loved ones, for us it's more about preserving the architecture and the materials of the historic tombs. We are always respectful and courteous of the family members buried inside - we always introduce ourselves at the beginning of the project and give a "pardon our progress" speech to the interred - but we are ultimately more concerned with the conditions of the materials rather than the names on the tombs. 

Guice: “Once you are contacted by a private family about their interest in tomb preservation, what role do you play in analyzing the scope of the preservation project and physical project timeline?”

Duhon: Once a family contacts us we take about a week to go see the tomb, we do a thorough conditions assessment, and then we provide a free estimate and detailed Scope of Work. I'm sure that many families take our proposals and give them to other masons or contractors to see if they can replicate the work for a lower cost, and that's just part of being in any construction-related field. I have always believed in providing free and detailed estimates so that there is an element of transparency to our work right from the beginning. I also think it's important for the owners to understand that we only use historically-appropriate materials, and that we aren't the quick-and-easy, handy-man approach. We are methodical and precise in our work, and the labor can be very intensive. 

Guice: “Considering the tropical climate in New Orleans, is there a certain time of the year that might play a significant role in tomb preservation?” 

Duhon: I've been in business for 10 years now. EVERY year I say, "THIS is the year that we really try to get more work in the Spring and Fall, and less in the Summer. THIS year it's going to work!" And without fail, every year we are busiest during the brutal months of summer. It's tough doing cemetery conservation work in the summer in New Orleans. The heat slows us down and it can really affect how our materials cure. And then those pop-up rain storms can really throw an extra wrench into our work days. We often find ourselves scrambling to try to cover up our plaster work and pack up everything before the torrential downfall starts. Summer is definitely not the ideal time to be doing cemetery work, but we make it work. 

Guice: “With regards to gaining the rights to enter a cemetery property to perform the actual tomb preservation, does your firm handle all of necessary paperwork or permits, as well as permissions to proceed with the work?”

Duhon: Yes, we always take care of pulling the necessary permits for our work. Whether it's a private cemetery, Archdiocesan cemetery, or City Cemetery, they all have different processes that we are very familiar with. When it comes to providing proof of ownership (which can actually be the trickiest part for many tomb owners) we help facilitate that process between the owner and the cemetery. We also offer extra research services where we can essentially build a chain-of-title for a tomb in case a family has completely lost all ownership documentation.  

Guice: “While it’s understandable that each tomb preservation is unique, what are some of the more common types of preservation work your firm usually performs in New Orleans?”

Duhon: I would say that 80% - 90% of historic tombs in New Orleans are built with the same materials: brick, stucco, and a marble tablet. These materials then face a lot of common problems, especially after 100 years or more of Louisiana weather. We almost always see cracks through the brick and stucco, a failing roof, sugaring at the marble tablet, and a LOT of biological growth build-up. Over the decades a lot of families or cemetery caretakers have introduced Portland Cement products (like Quikrete) and latex paint onto their tombs, thinking that these modern materials are going to perform well and magically fix all the problems their tomb is facing. That is almost NEVER true, and these modern materials end up causing more problems. When we see Portland Cement repairs and tombs covered in latex paint, the first thing we usually have to do is remove all of that, which can be very labor-intensive. 

Guice: “While there are so many types of tombs throughout New Orleans, relative to building materials and architectural styles, does your firm work with all types of materials or do you specialize in only a few?”

Duhon: We specialize in any material that is lime-based, like lime-based mortars and lime-based plasters. Because we are constantly using lime to make repairs to different types of historic, masonry tombs and structures, we are very well-versed in the different types of lime and how different recipes and application methods will perform. Another specialty is our stone restoration work. We can take an old marble tablet or marble sculpture and properly restore it with the right types of cleaners, pinning methods, and fillers so that it really looks beautiful again. We don't shy away from any historic material - we also work with a lot of bronze and metal sculptures outside of the cemeteries - but the historic brick, plaster, and stone materials are really our bread-and-butter, so to speak. 

Guice: “When it comes to tomb construction, are there standard codes or rules that tomb designers adhere to, and if so, how much do these standard rules play in tomb preservation?”

Duhon: There are definitely rules and best practices that new tomb designers follow today; you will see placement of vents in the walls along with certain size requirements to accommodate modern, larger casket sizes. Historically, there seems to have been either a set of best practices or just institutional knowledge among tomb builders about tomb building, because most historic tombs definitely follow certain patterns in terms of size, the number of wythes used in the wall construction, height of the caveau, etc. We do see a few varieties when it comes to the roof design/construction of historic tombs. Since we end up repairing a lot of roofs, one of the first things we have to determine is exactly how the original roof was built, and whether or not its original design ever really functioned appropriately. 

Guice: “What happens to a family tomb in New Orleans if a family ceases to exist, or there is no one to continue the upkeep or preservation of their family’s tomb?

Duhon: It is the responsibility of the tomb owner to maintain their individual tomb. Generally, if a family has not buried someone in their tomb or repaired their tomb within 50 years, then it can be considered abandoned property. Think about it this way: if you owned a house but stopped using it or maintaining it for 50 years or more, it would fall apart and become a public hazard, and the City would have an opportunity to seize the property and eventually sell it. Tombs are property - they are a form of real estate - so the same idea applies. Now, in reality, I have rarely seen this happen, because there is a heavy burden on they cemetery to prove that a tomb is actually abandoned. Furthermore, there are so many tombs that are in bad condition with no recent burials (they fit that 50 year rule) that the sheer number of abandoned tombs almost acts like an impossible barrier for Cemeteries: where would the cemetery even begin in seizing property, and why? There's also very little incentive for cemeteries to seize property because the maintenance of that tomb then becomes the responsibility of the cemetery, and the cemeteries have enough maintenance issues without having to take care of the individual tombs. So, the unfortunate answer is, that when a family dies off or permanently moves away or just loses interest in their tomb, that the tomb usually just slowly falls apart. Tombs are stout structures - you could say they are over-engineered - so this process can take a very long time. 

Guice: “So, if a local family is indeed interested in learning more about their family’s town or plot, who should they contact first to determine ownership rights?”

Duhon: This answer depends on where the tomb is located. If the tomb is located in a private cemetery, you are probably in the best position to just call the cemetery and look into their records, which are generally pretty organized. If your tomb is in a Archdiocesan cemetery, you might have good luck with the records, or you might not. The Archdiocese lost a lot of material in Hurricane Katrina, but they are very helpful and will try to help you piece information together. If your tomb is in a City cemetery, you will have the toughest time. The City Cemeteries office is under good leadership, but like a lot of City departments they are under-funded. Start with a phone call to the appropriate Cemetery manager / owner, get what information you can from them, and then start doing your own research. There's Find A Grave online, there's the WPA Cemetery Index, there are copies of burial records at the New Orleans public library, and there are maps and surveys available online at the Save Our Cemeteries website. Save Our Cemeteries is a great local resource: they have a small library you can borrow from, and their staff is always willing to help guide you in the right direction. 

Guice: “And once the family has indeed determined that they truly own the burial rights to their family tomb, if there a website or place you can refer them for more information on preserving their historical family’s tomb?”

Duhon: There are a lot of resources out there about cemetery preservation, but most of those resources tend to focus on headstones. New Orleans cemeteries are unique within the United States. Save Our Cemeteries has both some literature and a Restoration expert who can guide you on best practices for tomb restoration. There is also the Association of Gravestone Studies, the Historic Preservation Tech Points from the National Park Service, and the conservators at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training - these are all resources that can offer more advice on proper cemetery conservation.  

Here are 10 tips for preserving historic cemeteries, tombs and burial grounds:

1. Determine -and coordinate with- the congregation, Archdiocese, cemetery owners, or governing agency responsible for the land. Cemeteries or burial grounds may be associated with a religious organization, located on private property (which the descendants of those buried there might still own), or under the control of a private or state or local government. In any event, it’s critical to coordinate with the site's owners at the outset. Bayou Preservation can assist you with determining the proper channels before proceeding.

2. A nonpartisan and nondenominational “friends” group can work as a neutral party in planning for the cemetery’s preservation and maintenance. In addition, a secular group could be eligible for state and federal funding from which a religious group might be exempt.

3. While most of these preservation projects are funded by the individuals family members, always search out for funding and partners. Creativity is key, as there are not as many resources available for burial ground restoration as for other types of preservation projects. That said, their highly local nature makes them good projects for partnerships with historic societies or civic groups like the Junior League and Jaycees.

4. Some families might like to secure a historic site designation. It can be difficult to get a cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places unless it is part of a historically significant property or is in a historic district. However, getting listed on a state or local register is still beneficial, as it can make the site eligible for funding—as well as offer recognition and prestige.

5. Arrange for training and technical assistance. Having preservationists with the necessary skills ―such as surveying and documentation, stone cleaning and resetting, and site maintenance―can be an critical cost-saving measure in a restoration process. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training -part of the National Park Service is a valuable resource for more information.

6. Having accurate documentation of what is on the site is critically important to the preservation process, as it creates a record to work from in the future. The mapping and surveying process should include noting all graves (marked and unmarked); pathways, walls, and fences (both for the perimeter and enclosures); trees and other vegetation; and any other features or buildings. Bayou Preservation can assist you in all paperwork and proper documentation.

7. Before moving into the physical restoration process, it’s important to think about the future visitation level of the burial ground. Is it in an urban area and likely to get a lot of traffic? Or is it more rural and therefore less likely to have many people wandering through? If you expect heavier visitation, take that impact into account when planning.

8. Loose or unbalanced markers can be a safety hazard for workers and visitors alike. Put stabilization at the top of the priority list. Likewise, address any landscape issues that could be dangerous, such as unstable surfaces or crumbling retaining walls. After the safety issues are resolved, move on to fixes like iron and stonework. Let the professionals handle this!

9. Develop a maintenance plan - Cemeteries and burial grounds require significant ongoing maintenance following the initial restoration. A groundskeeper can manage the routine landscape work, but should do so in a way that doesn’t damage or disturb the grave markers. In addition, all stones should be inspected periodically for wear-and-tear and be gently cleaned of debris.

11. Make it visitor-friendly. A few amenities such as trash cans and informational signs can go a long way in making a historic cemetery or burial ground welcoming. In addition, visitor-friendly activities such as tours can draw attention to the restoration work.