No. 5.0-Autumn Preservation Work

The summer months can prove to produce extremely high temperatures in certain areas of the country particularly in the Southern states. This makes for fun beach days and weekend BBQs. However the heat and abundance of flora can make it difficult to conduct exterior preservation work especially at a site that is not consistently maintained. 

In the autumn season, the leaves begin to fall and the grass remains low. It’s feasible to clear away brush to view markers, headstones or vertical structures that may have been hidden behind the foliage. This is helpful for cleaning up and surveying cemeteries. Fall presents the opportunity to get a glimpse of ground level site features that may not be accessible during the Spring and Summer months. Such features could be abandoned railroad tracks, manholes or utility connection points, structural foundation members and access to underground spaces. Certain animals such as rodents and snakes begin to hibernate which gives preservationists a little ease in their cleanup efforts.

Preservationists who could benefit from the autumn season are those who are responsible for maintaining their own sites with little to no funding. Mother Nature conducts its own natural shedding making way for feasibility to clean and view the grounds. Autumn allows for downtime to prepare for the upcoming year. One can take time to conduct any applicable maintenance required before the coming of the winter months. 

For places that garner visitors, the season gives the site a different visual and historic perspective from the hotter months earlier in the year. Preservationists or curators may change the site activities and exhibits at this time that are more fitting to the seasonal change. This could include altering activities to show how a site was used during the Autumn season versus the Spring and Summer seasons. 

The Autumn season is a time to safely conduct preservation maintenance. The temperatures are cooler during daylight. Nature gives way for new colors and a sense of serenity. This is a time for renewal. A clean slate. A refresh of thought and vision.

Best wishes to those of you who will use this time to catch up on your preservation work.