Probing

One of the most tedious yet rewarding aspects of this preservation project has been probing. We use a 3 ft. long stainless steel rod and punch holes in the soil 10 to 12 inches deep and about 3 inches apart.We are looking for missing or broken markers, rocks that could have been used to mark graves, footstones, and sometimes even finding side rails that have sunken and become covered.

This is the bottom portion of a broken headstone. Sadly, the top part could not be located for repair. However the bottom portion was raised enough to have a couple of inches sticking out of the ground to mark the grave.

This is the bottom portion of 15 day 7 month old Marcellus Coletrane. The top portion of this stone could not be located nearby.

This piece of stone was located near the Logan family plot, approximately 30 yards from Marcellus Coletrane's gravesite.

Upon removal of the stone it was found to be the top portion of Marcellus headstone which was then repaired.

How these stones get moved around like that is anybodys guess.