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Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia State Parks rangers are known for their dedication and deep knowledge of our natural and cultural resources. Their expertise and skills make them valuable assets to not only the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation but other agencies and state parks across the Southeastern U.S. and beyond.
When a unique need arises, our highly trained rangers are often asked to travel outside of the commonwealth to lend their expertise to specific projects, helping to ensure public lands and resources are protected for future generations.
One of these rangers is Historic Preservation Specialist Burke Greear. He’s based at Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park and is known in preservation circles for his expertise with historic stone and monument-related work.
Keep reading to learn more about Ranger Greear and his unique skillset.
Ranger Greear
In addition to an academic background in museum studies and resource conservation, Ranger Greear has undergone extensive hands-on training in preserving historic stones.
When he was with the National Park Service, Ranger Greear was formally trained at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. During this time, he managed the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee, a presidential burial site dating back to 1875. Part of this responsibility was to learn and utilize the latest stone preservation products, equipment, methods and techniques.
Ranger Greear also trained under Stone Conservator Jonathan Appell, who is among the nation's leading conservators in the historic cemetery and monument-related field.
When asked why this type of preservation was important to him, Ranger Greear said, “They say your memory lives only as long as the last person that forgets you. I believe that we should want monuments, especially gravestones, to last as long as possible to keep these memories alive.”
Today, Ranger Greear has nearly 20 years of experience working with historic stones. He’s worked on thousands of monuments in dozens of cemeteries, parks and other sites, making him an important asset within the Virginia State Parks system.
Given his skills, Ranger Greear is often called to parks in neighboring states to help preserve historic stones or monuments.
Most recently, he was asked to come to David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Limestone, Tennessee, which had been devastated by flooding, downed trees and debris after Hurricane Helene.
In the middle of an otherwise barren landscape where flood waters had measured 60 feet deep, park rangers rediscovered the original foundation front step for the cabin where Crockett had been born in 1786. The block of limestone measured 4’x4’x1’ and was calculated to weigh approximately 1,940 pounds. Park management decided to relocate the historic stone for safekeeping while the massive clean-up effort continued at the park.
Original foundation front step
With help from Tennessee State Park Ranger Thomas Batchelor, Ranger Greear and Virginia State Parks volunteer Richard Howard carefully excavated the stone from layers of silt, sand and debris and prepared it for lifting.
The team used a 1-ton-rated tripod lifting system to get it off the ground so a custom platform base could be constructed and installed underneath to allow the stone to be handled and moved with heavy equipment.
Clearing and lifting the stone
Once the stone was placed on the platform, the surfaces were further protected by covering them with closed-cell polyethylene foam, which lessened the likelihood of damage during transport and temporary storage at nearby Tusculum University.
Polyethylene foam wrap
Ultimately, the stone will be displayed at Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton, Tennessee where it will stay until the cleanup and rebuilding efforts at David Crockett Birthplace State Park are complete and it can return.
This is just one example of how Virginia State Parks rangers and volunteers use their unique skills to help protect natural and cultural resources. These collaborative efforts not only strengthen ties between park systems but also demonstrate the spirit of stewardship, which knows no bounds.
Categories
Conservation | State Parks
