John Livermore knelt at the edge of a weathered gravestone, his hands brushing away dirt to reveal a long-faded name. Nearby, his wife, Kate Livermore, and Jenny Carr worked side by side, digging around another marker. For the volunteers gathered at St. Mary of the Snow Cemetery, their work was more than just maintenance—it was an act of reclaiming history.

“Her name was Margaret Berry,” Livermore said, his voice softening. “All you could see was the top of the headstone that said Berry. Margaret was a little baby. No one deserves that. It’s sad enough that that happened to a child, right? It’s even sadder that she’s forgotten. That’s why I do it.”

For Livermore, the project’s emotional resonance runs deep. He and his fellow volunteers see each gravestone as a piece of history worth saving.

Jenny Carr echoed the sentiment as she paused to survey the cemetery. “The history needs to be preserved,” she said. “Each stone represents somebody’s life. That’s important. And we’re the somebody who is going to take care of it.”

This grassroots initiative to restore and preserve gravestones is part of a growing effort led by David Carr—Jenny’s husband, who co-founded Gravestone Guardians, a nonprofit dedicated to this mission. David and Jenny Carr, residents of Bellingham, Massachusetts, have been involved in headstone cleaning, repair, and resetting since 2018, driven by their passion for family history and genealogy. Through their meticulous efforts, they have documented over 171,000 headstones across 340 cemeteries in three countries.

“It’s personal just because I have such a long history,” David Carr said. “I am related to at least one person in every one of the little burial plots here in the town of Saugerties.”

The cemetery itself holds a layered history, intertwined with the town’s past. St. Mary of the Snow was once a station on the Underground Railroad, where fleeing slaves would follow light signals from the priest to find safe passage through a hidden tunnel into the church’s basement. Though the tunnel has since collapsed, Father Chris Berean, the church’s pastor, believes the restoration of the cemetery honors not only individual lives but also the community’s collective heritage.

Gravestone Guardians recently gained nonprofit status, making donations tax-deductible. This has helped the group raise funds and secure tools, with local support coming from the Saugerties Kiwanis Club, which donated $3,000 for equipment and $10,000 for broader community projects.

Father Chris Berean has witnessed the powerful community spirit driving the restoration efforts. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, he remains optimistic.

“We’re trying to do our best to replace as many as we can,” he said.

Veterans’ graves are also a priority. Many of the markers at St. Mary’s are rounded-top headstones that signify Civil War veterans. Father Berean explained that these stones were provided to those who couldn’t afford private markers. Thanks to assistance from the VA, the church has been able to replace some of the most damaged stones when proof of service is available.

The church, which houses original Tiffany stained glass, also serves as a reminder of the town’s cultural heritage. The stained glass, installed in 1833, survived an arson fire in 1989 and remains a focal point of the church. “This is one of the prides of the place here,” Berean said. “That is original Tiffany glass. The colors in it are unbelievable when the sun shines through it.”

Social media has helped grow community support, with volunteers drawn to the project from across the region. Jenny Carr said the motivation is simple.

“They arrive. They come; they want to help,” she said, smiling. “There’s a lot of good here.”

Saugerties resident and member of the parish Tim Guiher borrowed a compact excavator from his plumber to help the efforts.

For John Livermore, who also owns the Stone Pony catering business in Saugerties, the effort is about respect: “I do it because I don’t think anybody should be forgotten. It’s a travesty if people are laying down, and you don’t know their name.”

Gravestone Guardians emphasizes preservation, readability, respect, aesthetic appeal, prevention of further damage, and historical accuracy as central reasons for their careful work. With each gravestone restored, volunteers not only reclaim lost histories but also strengthen a community bound by remembrance and respect—a mission they hope will endure for years to come.

The community is invited to participate in two upcoming graveyard restoration workdays aimed at preserving local history. The first event will take place at St. Mary of the Snow Graveyard on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 25 Cedar Street, Saugerties. Volunteers will assist with spring cleanup, as well as headstone resetting and repairs. The following day, Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Finger Ground Restoration Project will continue similar efforts at 607 Kings Hwy, Saugerties. Both events welcome anyone willing to lend a hand in maintaining these historic sites.

Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.