An Interview with Gravestone Conservator Rachel Meyer

Historic Gravestone Preservation to Keep Stories Alive

A couple of months ago, I was set up at an event with my colleague Deek. I came back from walking around and he was talking to a woman. He said, "Alex, see if you can guess what this woman does for a living." After having no clues, except for an all black outfit, I guessed a couple of things, but was way off. And then she told me. This was a job that I never had thought about existing, but was completely intrigued by. And after talking with Rachel Meyer for a while, I knew that I needed to interview her for this series.

1. Your business is a completely unique one, as you are surely the first gravestone conservator that I've met, let alone heard of. For others like me out there, could you explain what you do?

I am a gravestone conservator. With my business partner, Josh, I own a business that repairs historic gravestones to Historic Preservation standards. We mostly serve Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. We typically work on gravestones that date from the 1600s to 1900s.

A repaired gravestone in Pine Grove Cemetery Hampton, NH

2. Learning about your work, it's clearer now that this is a role that needs to exist for burial grounds everywhere. It's a great way to keep stories alive and save resources. How did you ever come to decide on this career path? Is there a specific program at a college for it? And like myself, were you into horror movies as a kid? I'm so intrigued and have so many questions!

Like a lot of the best things, it happened organically. I was working in museums and was writing a novel. Part of it was set in a historic burying ground. My search for inspiration for my novel led me to a historic site that was so badly neglected that I felt called to gather volunteers to save it. We took a bunch of classes to get qualified to do the work we do.

This trade can be learned apprenticeship style and I always discourage people from going into student debt. That said, I studied environmental geology and legal studies in college and it lent itself well to this work.

I was into adventure as a kid. Of course I watched the Creature Double Features on TV and I found them kind of artsy visually. Mostly though, it was mystery and adventure for me. Lots of PBS and Indiana Jones.

Rachel excavating a gravestone.

3. I know you have worked on some really unique projects around New England. Do you have any favorite or more rewarding stories?

Alongside our large projects we are hired to do, I have passion projects that I advocate endlessly for and accomplish pro bono. I call it "sending love letters into the world". When I see something in the world that would cause most to pick up a protest sign, I look for ways to use my skills and talents to show that I care. Be it "immigrant" cemeteries or segregated sections. My most rewarding pro bono project is one where I have been going around repairing the gravestones of the African American Community from the 1800s in the Salem, Massachusetts area. So much of this history has been lost and I want to do my small part to help preserve what we have before it is also lost.

Gravestones are interpretive objects and just like in museums, can be used to tell stories. I like to make sure we are telling the whole story.

A repaired gravestone from 1716 at Old North Burying Ground in Ipswich.

4. So, while I'm certainly a solutions guy, we do have to address the problems. Where do you see the most waste in your daily life?

We use our materials so I wouldn't necessarily call it waste in the classic sense. As someone who is aware of her footprint, I am always weighing what is going on in the production of the materials we use though.

I don't see a way around using the materials we use but there is sand and peastone for resetting fallen gravestones and mortars for repairing broken ones. I am sure the production of these things isn't neutral.

My solution is that I try not to waste it. If we mix too much mortar, I make art out of it. I sculpt and create molds from my sculptures and anything extra goes into these molds. At the end of the season, I both sell and hand out what I make. I have set up a table for downtown trick or treat and have given things to trick or treaters walking by which was very popular and fun.

This question reminded me that I need to resubscribe to a carbon offset. I have a question for you. What is the best way to offset your impact when it can't be avoided completely?

Witch houses that Rachel made from excess repair materials.

Thanks for asking. Some things can't be avoided. For me, I just make trades in my life and look at the bigger picture. With my car, I've had to buy new tires for it over time. But, I've kept the same car on the road for 17 years. The car itself is the bigger picture. I think this is certainly a way to look at your work too. Also, here's a great place to learn more about offsets that we can purchase.

5. In your personal experience, how do you think recycling has worked and NOT worked as a solution to waste?

I think that unless people really know how to recycle, so much doesn't actually get recycled. I was told of this term, "wishcycling," which I have become more aware of. It means people putting items in their recycling because they want them to be recycled, but it ultimately becomes problematic at the facility. It leads to less being recycled. Ultimately, the waste question needs to come up before you purchase things.

6. How do you think the U.S. could step up the solutions to our waste problem? Have you seen or heard of anything anywhere else?

Have you ever opened a dumpster and seen all the waste in them? I know your answer is yes. Years ago, I called Elizabeth Warren's office after the holidays when I noticed the sheer amount of seasonal items going into dumpsters, especially cheap, mass produced things. When you see the level of waste at the corporate level, it is easy to become disempowered. I think the change needs to happen at a level that very few of us feel we have access to. I wish I had the solution.

7. It's funny. I always tell people that reusing is nothing new. It’s been going on long before we were here. Do you have any memories of your parents or grandparents reusing in unique ways?

I grew up poor so we didn't have much to begin with. My grandparents were jazz musicians and we would all perform as a family. There were a couple songs that they would perform that really spoke to their generation's experience of things like The Great Depression, when lack was normal and you had to find other ways to be happy. My grandmother used to get dressed up in her second hand costume and sing the song, "Second Hand Rose," to an audience. I still sing it to myself sometimes. I learned when I was young that surrounding yourself with good people and doing what you love are the real riches.

Rachel's grandmother - maybe playing "Second Hand Rose"

8. Do you have any notable stories about saving money on something because you bought it used instead of new?

I buy most things used; not everything but most things. My favorite weekend activity is going to yard sales and finding things to either reuse or make into other things. I love a thrift store, buy nothing group, and side of the road finds.

I couldn't do what I do if I didn't know how to enjoy being frugal when needed. To me, knowing how to be resourceful means gaining the freedom to pursue your calling rather than pursuing the grind of consumerism. Saving in this way means being able to be generous to those whose values I align with too. I also have plenty of stories about spending money on reused items (aka antiquing.)

One of my new favorite reused scores is the bracket on the new Jenny Slew Park Sign in Ipswich. I got it from our local Ipswich / Rowley Buy Nothing Group and gave it to the sign maker to use with the new sign. This saved the Historical Commission a couple hundred dollars and we had a limited budget so that is good.  It was just installed a couple days ago.

Jenny Slew Park celebrates the first enslaved person to win her freedom by way of jury trial in an American courtroom.

9. Have you ever taken anything out of the recycling bin or trash to reuse somehow or maybe found something on the side of the road?

Yes. Our town always has free stuff on the side of the road. I love that about our culture. The New England frugality. I just picked up a box of acrylic paints I've been using and a classical CD I've been playing that I wouldn't have heard of on Spotify.

10. And lastly, what’s the best thing that you ever got used and why? Got a photo?

I only buy used vehicles. I'm rather excited about the idea of my new, used van. Perfect for tools and as a mobile office.

Rachel's van and mobile office parked at a burial ground.

To learn more about Rachel and her work,

head over to the Epoch Preservation website here.

To order a One of a Kind REUSE! T-Shirt

like Rachel is wearing in her profile photo, head over to the STAY VOCAL One of a Kind gallery.