Three years ago, the historic gravestone restoration service Beyond the Gravestone began an important project at the Granby Cemetery: restoring the many tombstones that had cracked, broken or begun to lean with age. Since then, owners Will Cornell and his wife, Lisa, and their crew have made remarkable progress, bringing many of these historic markers back to life. Although much more work remains, the results of their efforts are already evident in the “old section” of the cemetery.
The old section of the Granby Cemetery is the final resting place of many families whose names have been in town for a century or more—Hayes, Messenger, Holcombe, Case, Spring, Griffin, Viets, Dewey, Godard, Hillyer and others who helped shape Granby through their contributions in government, business and community life. Their names have endured generations and remembering them helps us understand the people and events that shape the town we know today.
Under each tombstone lies someone who contributed to this town in a unique way or fashion. At one time they enjoyed life as we do today. The dates on the tombstone are a mere short biography of the life of that person.
This is one reason the restoration work is so important. The Granby Cemetery entrusted Will and Lisa Cornell with this project as they are masters of their craft whose work requires patience, knowledge and a careful understanding of the materials and techniques needed to repair old gravestones.
They know when to use D-2 biological cleaner to remove unwanted growth, how much epoxy is needed to mend a crack and how to apply the proper pressure when repairing a damaged stone. They also understand how to use sand and pea stone to stabilize leaning stones and return them to the upright position. Each repair requires a thoughtful approach to ensure the stone is treated with care and respect.
For Will, the work is more than repairing a tombstone. It is honoring the person whose name appears on it. When he begins working on a marker, he sometimes greets the person as if he were making the acquaintance of an old friend, saying hello to Mr. Green or Miss Green. That simple gesture reflects the respect he brings to his work and his recognition that every gravestone represents a human life.
We, at the Salmon Brook Historical Society, were lucky to have the Cornells and their crew set four new tombstones in the new interpretive cemetery on our main campus. Although the stones appear new to visitors, they are replicas of historic tombstones that have been in our Tobacco Barn for more than 20 years. The interpretive cemetery offers visitors another way to explore Granby’s past. The stones represent people whose stories can be shared by the Salmon Brook Historical Society tour guides, giving visitors a glimpse into the lives behind the stones.
I encourage everyone to visit the Salmon Brook Historical Society campus and see the cemetery for themselves. While there, take time to explore the society’s other historic buildings and exhibits. Then visit the Granby Cemetery in the center of town to see the remarkable restoration work completed by Beyond the Gravestone.
To learn more about the Granby Cemetery, the interpretive cemetery or Beyond the Gravestone, become a member of the Salmon Brook Historical Society by calling 860-653-9713 or go online at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com