Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer
(Photo by Deb Malewski – Terry Hill stands next to the Civil War monument at the Dimondale cemetery that he proudly cleaned.)
“It is my cemetery now. I have kind of claimed it,” said Terry Hill as he looked out over Dimondale Cemetery on North Canal Road. With nearly 3,700 graves scattered across the grounds, Hill has unofficially taken on the title of “cleaner of gravestones.” It is a role no one else is vying for, but one he embraces with quiet dedication.
Working entirely on his own time and at his own expense, Hill has been carefully cleaning the aging headstones one by one. Many of the markers, some dating back to the mid-1800s, are stained by weather and time, and are covered with lichen, dirt, and discoloration. The porous nature of the stone only adds to the challenge.
So far, Hill has cleaned 98 headstones. Before he began, he turned to YouTube tutorials and online research to learn the safest and most effective techniques, determined not to damage the fragile stones. He invested in soft brushes, a battery-operated sprayer for rinsing, and specialty cleaners approved for gravestone restoration. Among them: “Wet and Forget,” a costly but gentle solution that works overtime. He has already used eleven gallons of it.
The results are especially striking on the white military gravestones, which look nearly new after he is finished with them.
Hill adds a personal touch to his work. He places a single yellow rose on the graves of women whose markers he has cleaned. “It means I am gonna look after them,” he said. “Many of them do not have any family who comes to see them anymore.”
“The stones call to me. People who have been forgotten and neglected call to me,” he said. “I enjoy saving these people’s memories. I think they deserve it.”
Hill’s journey began in Kinross, Michigan, where he has 50 relatives buried. On a visit, he cleaned each of their graves and found the experience deeply rewarding. Back home, he visited Dimondale Cemetery and saw a need. That moment sparked what he now calls his “hobby.”
He plans to expand his efforts soon by cleaning the grave of Isaac Marquand Dimond, the founder of Dimondale, who is buried in Ohio.
But Hill’s work is not limited to cleaning. He also researches the lives behind the names etched in stone. On his Facebook page, Digging Down in Dimondale, he shares the stories he uncovers, and connects with a growing community of history enthusiasts, longtime locals, and the descendants of those buried in the cemetery.
A big upcoming challenge he faces is to finish the cleaning of Dr. Tyler Hull’s (1840–1897) monument, which stands over 20 feet high. Dr. Hull, a doctor, lawyer, schoolteacher, U.S. Marshal, township clerk, superintendent of schools, and state representative, is immortalized in stone, seated in a chair atop the monument. Locals fondly recall climbing up to sit on his lap as children. Hill has done the stairs and the lower part of the monument but will need a ladder to reach the doctor.
If you would like to get involved in the cleaning or in supporting his work, reach out to Hill through his Facebook page, Digging Down in Dimondale.
