Dr. Chris Houser Presents the Cemetery Research Project
April 10, 2019 @ 7:00PM


Led by Dr. Chris Houser, this presentation will explain how Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) was used to identify unmarked graves in the Municipality of Whitestone’s three cemeteries, and the results of the surveys and subsequent analysis.

Cemetery Research Project: University of Windsor’s Dr. Chris Houser, Dean of Science; Dr. Maria Cioppa, Associate Professor; Dr. Phil Wernette, Postdoctoral Fellow; Graduate Student, Jacob Lehner; Undergraduate, Student Stephanie Altenhoff; and Undergraduate Student, Taylor Kyryliuk worked with Muriel Stiles of the Cemetery Board to locate unmarked graves, using GPR and EMI,  at Whitestone, Maple Island and Fairholme Cemeteries from August 1 – 5, 2018.

This study was provided to the municipality through the new Extension Science Program at the University of Windsor. In addition to the service provided to the municipality, the study provided students with practical experience related to the operation of the equipment, analysis of the information collected and preparation of a research report.

Andy and Marie (Brear) Houser of the Whitestone Historical Society helped facilitate the project. The Houser family are summer residents of Whitestone with a long historical association with the municipality.

What is GPR?: Ground penetrating radar identifies areas where soil has been disturbed and shows the structure of the soil and geology. In the case of the Cemetery Board, it was used to identify where not to dig, since the gravesite might be already occupied. GPR does not actually provide a ‘picture’ or x-ray image of what is underground. Rather, it identifies areas of disturbance and the existence of features below the surface, while not disturbing the site.


Fees
Fees for the Genealogical Club includes 9 meeting throughout the year, presentations from guest lecturers and digitising the Parry Sound North Star collection. Prices are $40 per year, $20 for those with an Annual Pass to the Museum or $6 for individual meetings.

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