If you enjoy walking through older cemeteries as much as I do, you might have noticed some beautiful, but different looking grave markers. These markers have a blue-gray color and even though most of these monuments date back to the last half of the 19th century, they have not weathered at all. Their lines and edges are still sharp and the inscriptions remain very legible.
Henry C. Miller marker, Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio. (2006 photo by Karen)
What is so special about the markers? They are made of metal. They are sometimes referred to as “white bronze” markers, but they are actually made of cast zinc. They get their blue-gray color from exposure to the elements, which forms a layer of zinc carbonate. Otherwise they withstand the weather because zinc does not corrode or rust. If fact many of the metal markers hold up much better than their concrete bases. If you are not sure if a marker is iron or zinc, try using a magnet. Zinc is not magnetic and will not attract the magnet.
Ault monument, Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio. (2006 photo by Karen)
Zinc grave markers were first made in 1873 and a year later The Monumental Bronze Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was formed and produced them for sale. The company had subsidiaries in Chicago, Detroit, Des Moines, Philadelphia, New Orleans and St. Thomas in Ontario, Canada.
American White Bronze Co. mark, Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. (2012 photo by Karen)
The zinc markers were ordered through the company’s catalog and sold by company sales agents. The casting was done in Bridgeport while some of the assembly was done in other areas. These metal markers were made to order, made to the customer’s specifications. The customer chose a basic design and size from the catalog and plaster molds were created from wax models. Panels and individual pieces were cast from the plaster molds. The individual panels were then assembled to make a custom monument. Molten zinc was poured into the joints between the sides and panels, which fused the pieces securely together.
The photo below shows a decorative panel insert.
St. Joseph Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)
The customer could also order specific decorations and embellishments from the company’s catalog. Some of these zinc markers are very elaborate, while others quite simple.
Brown plot, St. Joseph Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)
Greenlawn Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)
The Monumental Bronze Co. Catalog, circa 1890, is on-line in PDF format. I recognize many of the markers, toppers and embellishments that we have seen in numerous cemeteries we have visited.
Greenlawn Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)
Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. (2012 photo by Karen)
Zinc markers were relatively inexpensive and cost less than the carved marble and granite tombstones.
There are only a couple disadvantages to these markers. Zinc is brittle and can break if hit by something such as a tree branch. These monuments are hollow inside and unsupported weight at the top may cause the marker to “creep” down. For example, the weight of a statue may cause the lower part of the monument to buckle and the statue may begin to lean.
The Monumental Bronze Company ceased production of zinc grave markers in 1914 when they began manufacturing munitions for the government during WWI. They continued casting metal moldings until their bankruptcy in 1939.
Bye grave marker, Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. (2012 photo by Karen)
They continued to make inscription plates after the company ceased monument production in 1914. So you may see a zinc marker with an inscription date after the factory closed.
I have noticed that these markers were used for many civil War veterans as well as many of the Civil War statues seen in cemeteries.
Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio. (2006 photo by Karen)
Civil War grave, Greenlawn Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)
Sources of information:
Association for Gravestone Studies FAQ
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/tscarvers/monumental-bronze/monumental-bronze.htm
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~artttp/benton/whitebronze.htm
23 comments
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Interesting that they never switched to zinc plating or galvanizing. Zinc is still the main rust preventing coating for fence (chain link or highway grade field fence) and other iron products exposed to heavy corrosion. Apparently it took a while to learn that it was too brittle for stand alone applications.
Hello,
My name is Brian. I own Guiot Cmetery Monument Company in West Warwick, Rhode Island. I have several photographs of zink monuments in my collection. I am also the monument officer for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War organization. I have been writing stories for our website about Westerly, RI granite and The Gorham Company of Providence Rhode Island who made the bronze work for many of the old Civil War monuments here in Rhode Island and at many battlefields. These two companies made a lot of monuments for the Rhode Island Civil War Soldiers also.
Now I want to write about zink monuments for our organization and I don’t really know much about the zink monuments. I just read your site and I learned something today! I was pleased to see a site about zink monuments! Can you tell me anything that ( GAR) Grand Army of the Republic organization, Civil War veterans organization if they purchased any zink monuments for any old battlefields etc.? The government back in the day made many marble monuments for the veteran’s graves, but now they are in tough shape. Some of them, you can hardly read the inscriptions. I have replaced many of them with Barre Vermont gray granite. I really like the zink monuments, they are works of art in my opinion!
Please, give me your email address and I will send you some beautiful zink monuments located in Rhode Island cemeteries for your collection. I do hope to hear from you. Respectfully I am, Brian Guiot Have a wonderful day!
Author
Nice to hear from you and I would love to have some photo copies of the zink monuments you mentioned. I have seen many zink monuments used for Civil War graves but I do not know if any GAR groups purchased any for battlefields. Yes, unfortunately marble monuments have not weathered well. Granite seems to hold up much better and the zink markers have held up very well, too. Thanks for writing!
My husband’s family plans to put a monument in the family cemetery in Greenwood, Texas. We have looked at many and love the old zink ones……..is anyone making them now or do you have any idea where someone might buy one? Much thanks……Virginia McNeely Houston, Texas
Author
I do not know of anyone making the zinc monuments anymore. You could try an Internet search to see if any company makes specialty markers made of metal. They are certainly beautiful markers.
Virginia,
Did you find anything out about companies currently making zinc monuments? I have been trying all day to find some information online and have come up with nothing. Even if I could find somewhere that would make “faceplates” or something that could be attached to a bench type monument would be fine.
Mt Hope Cemetery in Bangor Maine has a dozenl. Here is the earliest one.
“9 Martha Oliver, died June 2, 1870, age 1 year, 9 months of drowning
(Her death was 4 years before the Monumental Bronze Company was founded.”
http://www.fomh.org/aboutus/zinc/
http://www.fomh.org/Components/Photos/Viewer.aspx?g=5
Author
Thank you! That is interesting. Her monument was probably one of the very first from the company.
Karen,
Are these types of monuments produced anywhere in the States at this time/
Author
I do not think so, but I am not sure. I found nothing on a quick Internet search.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing!
The fact that zinc cemetery monuments can easily withstand the test of time is great. They seem to be immune to rust and the only visible weathering effect is a change of hue. That sounds great for anyone who wants to respect and give gratitude to someone’s memory. Our grandfather recently passed away and we want to show our appreciation for all he did as head of the family by getting him a monument that will really stand out from the rest of the cemetery. Having it be built out of Zinc sounds like a great idea, and we might just consider it.
Author
The zinc monuments do weather well but I am not sure if anyone makes them anymore. Granite is also very durable and weathers well. Thanks for writing!
How fascinating! Thank you for your research. Just stumbled upon three of these style of markers today on a graveyard ramble and a quick Google search led to your site! The markers found today are located in Norway Bay, QC Canada, so can only assume they originated from the St. , ON production plant. Quite the trip! Will be on the lookout for more of this style in the furture! Again, thank you for your insight!
Author
So glad to learn that my blog post helped with your research, way up in Canada no less! They are very pretty markers and weather quite well. And they are fairly easy to spot. Happy hunting and thanks for writing!
There is one metal monument in our local cemetery I have admired all my life. As I think about my final resting spot, I wonder, does anyone make metal monuments anymore? If so, can you provide contact info? Thank you.
Author
I honestly do not know if any metal monuments are still made. I would ask your local monument source. Thanks for writing!
I never knew that you could use metal as a durable and elegant cemetery monument for your loved one. I heard that my friend was asked to look over his uncle’s funeral in the future. I’ll probably pass on this information to him so he can make a decision about the monument.
Author
I do not know if you can still purchase zinc monuments. Most ceased to be produced when WWI started. Thanks for writing!
I live in Seneca county and we have 21 zinc monuments located at green lawn cemetery and they are fantastic! An amazing business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Lots of people want them.
Author
They certainly are beautiful and appear to be durable. I am not sure if they will ever make a comeback but they do seem to hold up well and are probably not nearly as heavy as granite monuments. Thanks for writing.
Thanks so much for your informative website and photos. I have been visiting cemeteries in Vermont for decades, but have just noticed several zinc monuments in 3 different cemeteries incentral Vermont this summer. One has been ruined, probably by falling ice/snow from overhanging tree branches, or perhaps a falling limb as you suggested. Thankfully, the plates with individual information appear to be intact. I would be happy to send photos, if you would like them. I found the monuments unusual in Barre, Vermont, Granite Caoital of the World!
Author
You are very welcome. I enjoy seeing interesting cemetery monument photos and I would love to see those in your area. I will email you privately with an email address you can send photos to. Thank you for writing and for sharing the photos.