FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Historic Richmond Foundation Receives Oakley Certificate of Merit
For Replicated Monument

(Richmond, VA. April 20, 2006) On May 4, 2006, Historic Richmond Foundation will be awarded the Oakley Certificate of Merit from the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) for the Foundation’s work towards replicating the Monumental Church memorial to the 72 victims of the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire. The award ceremony takes place at 10 am on the south portico of Monumental Church, 1224 E. Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. The public is welcome to attend.

A representative from AGS will present the award to Monument Replication Committee Chair and Historic Richmond Foundation Board member Mimi Sadler. The Monument Replication Committee headed the recreation of Monumental Church’s famed outdoor memorial. May 4, 2006 is the 192nd anniversary of the original dedication of Monumental Church, which was built in tribute to those lost in the theatre fire.

The monument suffered irreparable damage and decay from exposure to pollutants that culminated in 1999 when the funerary urn fell to the ground. A conservation study concluded that damage was too extensive for a conventional restoration, so the Monument Replication Project began. The project combined traditional restoration techniques with cutting-edge laser technology and became an international effort, bringing together artisans, scientists, and preservationists to create the monument replica. The new monument was installed at Monumental Church in September 2005.

The mission of AGS is to foster appreciation of the cultural significance of gravestones and burying grounds through their study and preservation. The Oakley Award is presented periodically to groups that have helped to advance the mission of AGS.

About Historic Richmond Foundation:

In July 2005, Historic Richmond Foundation merged with the William Byrd Branch of APVA Preservation Virginia. Operating as Historic Richmond Foundation, the merged nonprofit, while a separate 501 (c) 3 organization, is pleased to be a part of the APVA family, and will act as the agency that is dedicated solely to preservation efforts in the greater Richmond area.

About the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS):

The non-profit Association was founded in 1977 for the purpose of furthering the study and preservation of gravemarkers of all periods and styles. Through its publications, conferences, workshops, and exhibits AGS promotes the study of gravestones from historical and artistic perspectives, expands public awareness of the significance of historic gravemarkers and cemeteries, and encourages individuals and groups that have similar interests.

Historic Richmond Foundation - The William Byrd Branch of APVA Preservation Virginia