A Vermont woman scrubs grime from gravestones and researches who is buried there

In a modest cemetery in western Vermont, Caitlin Abrams, a Vermont woman, painstakingly scrubs grime from gravestones and delves into researching who is buried there. Standing before strikingly different graves, one pristine white marble tombstone honoring Mary Bailey, who passed away at the tender age of 21 in 1852, and another covered in moss and grime, Abrams employs her brush and pump spray bottle to gently remove the dirt, revealing the floral details.

The striking difference between the graves becomes apparent, sometimes immediately, while in other instances, it takes a month for the transformation to become evident.

Abrams is among numerous social media creators who have gained popularity by sharing videos of themselves cleaning graves. These videos often attract large audiences, including viewers seeking calming content. The trend gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic as people explored safe hobbies and found solace in connecting over death.

While Abrams focuses on 18th and 19th century headstones in remote yet picturesque graveyards in Vermont, her online presence draws viewers to her deep dives into the past, touching upon the dark nature of death and spirits. Abrams adopts a methodical approach, researching the individuals buried, cross-referencing birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as newspaper clippings. She likens her work to that of journalism, but for the deceased.

The wealth of stories in America's graveyards is seemingly endless, with no central agency tracking the number of cemeteries in the U.S. Data visualization expert Joshua Stevens attempted to map over 144,000 graveyards and cemeteries, many of which require cleaning, restoration, and preservation. However, the labor surrounding cemetery upkeep has its double-edged sword, with some individuals seeking fame without proper training, risking damage to the graves, or crumble if handled too roughly, cautioned John Appell, a monument and gravestone restoration professional and CEO of Atlas Preservation.

Abrams emphasizes the importance of proper cleaning and obtaining permission from cemeteries before starting. While cleaning is just one aspect, preserving monuments and structures within historic cemeteries is equally crucial. Some cultures naturally incorporate regular grave cleaning as part of their rituals, such as in Mexico, where families clean and decorate graves during the Day of the Dead. In the U.S., cemeteries were among the country's first public parks, serving as gathering places for communities.