The Leelanau Historical Society, in partnership with Bingham Township, invites the public to participate in a free, three-day Cemetery Restoration Workshop at Maple Grove (Keswick) Cemetery, June 20–22, 2025. This hands-on event aims to rehabilitate gravestones and clean monuments at this historic burial ground, located at 2971 S. Center Highway, Suttons Bay.

Participants of all experience levels are welcome. Instruction and guidance will be provided by Ron Kelderhouse, a respected preservationist who has led similar workshops across Leelanau County, including sites in Glen Arbor, Cleveland Township, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Workshop Hours:

Friday, June 20 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, June 21 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, June 22 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Volunteers are encouraged to attend for at least one day, if not all three. Tools, headstone-safe cleaning materials, and other supplies will be provided. Participants should bring lunch, drinking water, gloves, and sun protection. Shade tents, snacks, and restroom facilities will be available on-site.

Registration is required. Click here to sign up or email info@leelanauhistory.org with questions.

The Maple Grove Cemetery is the final resting place of many early Leelanau County settlers. Restoring and preserving its gravestones not only honors those lives but also fosters a deeper connection to our shared local history.