Caitie Hilverman
Oct. 28, 2024 - Hudson, NY
Recorded by The Spark of Hudson
In this community talk, Caitie, Executive Director of The Spark of Hudson, shares her personal journey into gravestone preservation. What began as a practical effort to read the worn gravestones of her own ancestors in Hudson’s Cedar Park Cemetery turned into a meaningful and ongoing practice of preserving local history.
Caitie explains that her interest started while researching her family genealogy—many of whom have been in Hudson since the 1860s. As she began cleaning stones to access names and dates, she developed a deep connection to the practice. She shows a video of herself cleaning the gravestone of a young relative who died of polio in the 1920s, and describes how her children now help with preservation work too.
Throughout the talk, Caitie covers:
Why gravestones matter: They preserve names, dates, family relationships, and stories. They're also cultural artifacts that reflect the art, materials, and social history of a time and place.
The history of Cedar Park Cemetery: Originally five acres in the 1700s, it now spans 88 acres. Influenced by the rural cemetery movement, it includes diverse burial sections such as Jewish and Muslim plots, Civil War and WWII memorials, and is home to notable figures like a Titanic survivor and local merchants.
Unexpected personal connections: Caitie shares the story of how she unknowingly cared for the grave of a close friend’s family member for decades, highlighting how small communities often reveal powerful connections through cemetery visits.
Gravestone materials: She walks through common materials—marble, slate, granite, bronze, sandstone, wood, and iron—and explains their properties and how they age.
How to assess and clean gravestones safely: Caitie demonstrates the proper method using D/2 Biological Solution, water, and brushes. She explains the importance of not disturbing unstable stones and getting permission before cleaning.
She ends the talk by reflecting on how the practice, though it started for personal reasons, has become a way to develop empathy for others and honor people whose lives may otherwise be forgotten—especially relevant in a world where so many lives are lost without recognition or memorial.
