Restoration

In 1984, the John Laird Cemetery was a cluster of headstones hidden in the forest atop a hill. Lost to years of cattle farming, it was only through oral history and local lore that descendants located the plot and rediscovered John Laird and his family’s headstones. Since then, a number of projects have taken place to restore the land and graves.

Learn more about each project below.

  • In 2004, the JLCA Directors signed a contract with Dan Sumner Allen, IV, of the Cumberland Research Group, Inc., to conduct an archaeological exploration of the cemetery and perform the needed conservation work. Methods used to determine grave locations during the investigation included intensive pedestrian survey and visual examination of the entire cemetery area supplemented by systematic probing of suspected grave locations. 

    Based upon the results of the survey, Mr. Allen estimated that the cemetery could contain ninety-five known interment locations of which thirty-eight have retained their identity. 

    Mr. Allen also reset by hand excavation all of the markers that were canted or had fallen to the ground except the larger multiple element monuments that were lifted by using a tractor equipped with a front-end loader and nylon chokers. He repaired all of the fractured grave markers using a two-part adhesive suitable for adhering limestone and marble. After the markers were reset and repaired, they were cleaned thoroughly. Following the cleaning, each repaired fracture was pointed with a mortar mix to minimize water penetration into the repair especially in the winter. In addition, he installed a service star, donated by a descendant, at the grave of the War of 1812 veteran, James Hampton Evans.

  • Learn more about the 2025 restoration project here.

  • Read more about the Archaeological Ground-Penetrating Radar project here.