A Grave Attraction

A Grave Attraction Cleaning headstones since 2019 🪦 Storyteller of history
Western NY (Rochester, FLX, Buffalo)

Ready to get your hands dirty Buffalo?Join me for a hands-on cemetery preservation workshop at the United German and Fre...
08/26/2026

Ready to get your hands dirty Buffalo?

Join me for a hands-on cemetery preservation workshop at the United German and French Cemetery (part of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Inc.) in Cheektowaga, NY on September 12 at 10 AM.

I'll be teaching the basics of proper headstone cleaning, including what products to use, techniques to avoid, and how to approach different types of cemetery monuments.

Register online today: https://givebutter.com/gravestone-cleaning-workshop-fd1nua
There is a suggested donation when signing up, with proceeds supporting the Mount Calvary Heritage Foundation’s cemetery restoration efforts.

Come learn how to care for these pieces of history while helping support the preservation of local cemeteries.

Step Out Buffalo
Explore Buffalo
Buffalo NY

Hey Western NY! 🎉Summer may be slowing down, but I’m not! If you have a family headstone that could use some TLC, send m...
08/20/2026

Hey Western NY! 🎉

Summer may be slowing down, but I’m not! If you have a family headstone that could use some TLC, send me a DM! I’d love to help out! I am 100% volunteer based and just looking to keep stones preserved. 🪦

I’m passionate about proper headstone care and cemetery preservation. Every stone is different, so I use industry-approved cleaners and gentle techniques to safely improve its appearance without damaging the original material or history.

A little about A Grave Attraction:
✴️ Cleaning and caring since 2019
✴️ Based in Rochester, NY + available to travel
✴️ I’ve cleaned historic headstones and monuments across multiple states, including as far as New Orleans
✴️ Resident cleaner at 6 Monroe County cemeteries
✴️ Featured in The New York Times in 2024
✴️ Corporate girly by day, headstone cleaner by night 😂

Whether it’s your great-great-grandparents’ headstone, a family monument, or a stone in a historic cemetery that you’ve always wanted to see cleaned, I want to hear the story behind it.

📩 DM me with your headstone concerns and I’m happy to see if I can help!

08/18/2026

History detectives I need your help! 🕵️‍♀️📜

Researching women from history can be incredibly frustrating because the historical record is often incomplete or nonexistent.

Here is what I think is correct:
✔️Belinda was born around May 1797
✔️’Underhill’ could be her maiden name or 1st marraige name (I am unsure)
✔️She married Simon Sage on February 2nd, 1823
✔️They had one daughter: Charlotte
✔️In 1873 Belinda and Simon celebrated 50 years married with a nice write up in the Rochester NY paper
✔️She passed away on July 14, 1877

So I’m turning this one over to you. If you uncover anything more about Belinda’s early life, share it in the comments! I’d love to see if we can piece together more of her story. 🪦


Historic Pittsford
Pittsford Cemetery

This is the one month transformation of the Michael Shea monument I cleaned at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Inc. After nearly...
08/13/2026

This is the one month transformation of the Michael Shea monument I cleaned at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Inc.

After nearly a century of exposure to the elements, layers of biological growth had hidden so much of the beautiful marble statue underneath. This clean took six hours but I was able to gently remove that buildup and reveal the monument as it was meant to be seen.

Although both the marble statue and granite surrounding monument have really brightened up, this wasn’t ever about making a headstone look "new." It was about making sure the person it honors isn't slowly disappearing beneath years of dirt, algae, and lichen.

Michael Shea left an incredible mark on Buffalo's history. His monument should be just as easy to appreciate today as the legacy of Shea’s Buffalo.

08/11/2026

Have you ever noticed a blue headstone in a cemetery? There are lots of neat and unique things about cemeteries and I am here to teach you about them all!

💙 Those blue monuments aren't stone at all but rather zinc, also known as White Bronze monuments or "zinkies.”
🪦 A small stones with one letter? They're corner markers that identify the boundaries of a family's burial plot.
🧽 Not all cleaners belong on a headstone. Bleach and dish soap can damage historic monuments, while products like D/2 Biological Solution are safer conservation-approved options for cleaning.

The more time I spend in cemeteries, the more I realize there's always something new to learn!

Any of these facts surprise you?

08/06/2026

Abraham's first wife passed away at only 34 years old. About two years after, he remarried to Jane Tompkins, and together they welcomed two more children.

While cleaning Abraham's headstone, I uncovered the story of an English immigrant who experienced heartbreaking loss, found love again, worked hard to provide for his family, and earned the respect of his community. Sadly his wife Jane remains a bit of a mystery. Since records on her are scarce, do you think her last name Tompkins was a married or maiden name for her?

Like headstones, cemeteries, and history? Follow me for more!

08/04/2026

Catherine Anscomb was just 34 years old when she passed away in 1850, leaving behind her husband and young children.

Standing in cemeteries and researching the people buried there is a constant reminder that none of us know how much time we have. Every headstone represents someone who had dreams, a family, hardships, and a story that deserves to be remembered.

By combining headstone cleaning, cemetery preservation, genealogy, and historical research, I'm able to help preserve both these monuments and the lives they represent. Catherine's story is one that could have easily been forgotten, but it doesn't have to be.

Next, I'll be cleaning her husband Abraham Anscomb's headstone as we continue uncovering this family's history.

❤️ If this story reminds you to appreciate the time you have with the people you love, leave a ❤️ in the comments and share this with someone who needs the reminder.

07/27/2026

Is there a headstone in the road?! At first glance it might seem that way. But this small stone is just a plot marker. For how it ended up on the road? As the cemetery evolved a new road was added, not taking into account the far corners of a family plot.

It’s also possible the bodies within that family plot have shifted and are now partially (or worse, fully) under the road 😱

Address

Rochester, NY
146XX (14604=DOWNTOWN)

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when A Grave Attraction posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to A Grave Attraction:

Shortcuts

Share

Category