Stone Artistry, Connecticut Gravestone Network

Ty Tryon of Broken Chisel Artisan Stoneworks of Bloomfield demonstrated the fine art of lettering in stone, then invited visitors to take up the chisel and try for themselves at Connecticut Gravestone Network (CGN) Annual Spring Symposium in East Hartford. For additional photos, see www.moodogmedia.org.

Al Sargis of the New Britain Assyrian Cemetery demonstrated his new software program that gathers information and combines it with GPS data (and all can be interfaced with Google Earth mapping capability). The computer database is a powerful resource for genealogy, future generations, and information management.

“First you want to capture the history,” he said. “Once the information is entered, if you pass on, that information, all the history that you know, will remain.” He did note that a general familiarity with keyboarding and programs such as Microsoft Word systems were all that it takes to get comfortable with using his computer-based software program.

A vendor display on site offered visitors the opportunity to meet and chat with keepers of history. East Hartford’s Friends of Center Cemetery, celebrating its 300th anniversary, were guest hosts for the event.

More about CGN and the “Restoration of the Huntington Tomb in Norwichtown” presented by David Oat (about the archeology team that restored the tomb of one the greatest historical figures of our Connecticut’s Colonial history), later this week.

For more information about upcoming tours and walks (including the East Hartford tour) contact CGN Executive Director Ruth Shapleigh-Brown at (860) 643-5652; or write to Connecticut Gravestone Network, 135 Wells St., Manchester, CT 06040-6127.