CLEVELAND - When Brian Davis walks up to the tombstone of Thomas Barber, who died in 1886 at the age of 85, he knows the simple devices in his hands will make a difference.

Barber's stone tablet features a cross near the top and is covered with dirt, lichens and mold in its spot near the treeline.

Davis sprays all sides with water, scrapes off the lichens with a broad Popsicle stick and rubs on the flat surfaces of the stone with a natural-bristle brush.

"This is just water and a brush," he emphasizes, as significant dirt is removed.

He employs light, circular motions, while also making sure he doesn't lean on or put undue pressure on the marker, which has been sitting in this spot for some 125 years.

More at source: Salsbury Post