• 54°
Madison Station Historical Preservation Society members and other volunteers who recently repaired headstones in Old Madison Cemetery included Alex Johnson, Ron Johnson, Doug Smith and Charlie Nola (photo at right, standing from left), and Andy Stewart, Dawn Estrada, Charlie Nola, Alex Johnson and Doug Smith (photo at bottom left, standing from left). CONTRIBUTED

Johnson, historical society reclaim cemetery’s fallen headstones

MADISON – Concerned citizens are saving pieces of Madison history that are literally crumbling away. Ron Johnson and other volunteers are reclaiming fallen headstones on graves in Old Madison Cemetery.

In 2004 with the Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, Johnson suggested repairing broken headstones in Old Madison Cemetery, south of Mill Road and west of Hughes Road. The society agreed to fund the project, and Mayor Jan Wells approved the request for the restoration effort.

“Many headstones were laying down and (getting) damaged by lawn maintenance crews,” Johnson said. “Rather than removing them and replacing with new markers, the historical society agreed that using the actual historic stones would be better.”

The headstones represent “tangible pieces of history that deserve more than going to a landfill,” Johnson said.

Expanding tree roots or the shifting soil had turned over only a couple of headstones. “Marble is not a very strong stone, much like sandstone. It doesn’t take much effort to damage them,” Johnson said.

On some markers, lettering has been ‘obscured,’ or the removal of lettering from damage through the years so that reading the inscriptions is obscured to a best guess or no guess at all, he said.

Most headstones and bases are made from a marble slab, a few from poured concrete.

The first step in the repair process was to secure permission from the city. Repairs required several steps:

* Cleaning – Society members previously had worked on most headstones that were lying down. Volunteers gently removed old mortar, glue and caulking.

* Fittings – For minor repairs, headstones were fitted with fiberglass rods and white Portland cement.

* Major damage – If the damage is more than a clean break, volunteers pour a form with sand and white Portland cement and float the pieces like a mosaic.

* New bases – To replace bases, Johnson filled a form with Quikrete and re-enforced it with rebar.

One repaired headstone at James Francis Bronaugh’s grave shows his birth date as Jan. 8, 1834 (obscured) and death on June 16, 1897. The marker’s inscription reads, “Jesus, while our hearts are bleeding — O’er the spoils that death has won — We would at this solemn meeting — Calmly say, ‘Thy will be done.’”

Another reclaimed marker states “Son of Steptoe & Sarah O. Pickett. Died (obscured). Aug. 29, 1882. Blessed are the pure in heart – For they shall see God.” Volunteers included Dawn Estrada, Alex Johnson, Ron Johnson, Charlie Nola, Doug Smith and Andy Stewart.

“Madison Station Historical Preservation Society has funded and supported restoration of about 16 headstones in Old Madison Cemetery. We’ve also straightened maybe a dozen obelisks to avoid them from toppling over,” Johnson said.

“Members of the public have thanked us for the work,” Johnson said.

Alabama Historical Commission designated Old Madison Cemetery as a historic cemetery site in 2015.

Madison

Riocket City Trash Pandas to host “Meet the Team Dinner” on April 5

Business

Madison Chamber to host Best in Business Awards this Friday

Harvest

Landolt named President/CEO of Still Serving Veterans

James Clemens High School

James Clemens alum contends for TV foundation award

Bob Jones High School

Ashwin Prabhakar earns Gorgas Scholarship for state

Harvest

Tennessee Valley Interfaith Choir: Encouraging new musicales

Madison

“Don’t Mess with Madison PAC” to hold host public meeting Monday about special election

Bob Jones High School

Bob Jones to host Fantasy Playhouse summer camps

Bob Jones High School

Bob Jones’ ‘Patriot Pages,’ ‘The Eclectic’ ranked first in Alabama

Bob Jones High School

Bob Jones AFJROTC faces off with St. Stephens NJROTC

Bob Jones High School

Top-rated students recognized for Reflections designs

Madison

Finalists named for Madison’s first MVP awards honoring volunteers

Madison

Former Madison mayor questions city council over city manager proposal; special election date set

James Clemens High School

Austen Wyche receives 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

Huntsville

UAH set for NCAA South Regional Championship game Tuesday

Huntsville

UAH advances with 76-69 thriller over Embry-Riddle

Madison

Mill Creek tops in state with Destination Imagination challenges

Bob Jones High School

Bob Jones AFJROTC’s winning streak continues

Madison

School board green lights $58 million bond for new elementary school

Bob Jones High School

Lady Patriots hold off Sparkman in soccer rivalry match-up

James Clemens High School

James Clemens HOSA cinches wins at state conference

Huntsville

Season ends for Calhoun women

Harvest

‘A Night for Enable Garden Party’ to help aging, homebound

Huntsville

Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair returns to Toyota Field starting Friday

x