Learn about history - and 19th Century health care - on W. Chicago cemetery tours

One man fell down a flight of stairs. Another suffered a heart attack. Tuberculosis caused the demise of a third.

People died in myriad ways before being laid to rest in West Chicago's Oakwood Cemetery. On Friday, representatives from the West Chicago City Museum will tell some of their stories and explain how health care in the late 1800s affected life and death during the 26th annual Tales Tombstones Tell program.

"It's such a unique way to learn about history," said Sara Phalen, the museum's director and curator. "It's one thing to come to the museum and see exhibits, but to be in the cemetery where these people are buried - it's a hands-on kind of learning experience."

Each year, the museum tries to select new people to highlight on the tours. In the past, tours have been focused around the Civil War, the city's founding families, families who served on the cemetery board and Victorian-era funeral traditions.

"We've probably only covered half of the people buried in the cemetery," Phalen said, adding it holds about 2,300 grave sites.

The cemetery, near York Street and Oakwood Avenue, is the oldest in the city, dating to 1858. Tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and run continuously, about every 10 minutes, through 7:30 p.m. Each 45-minute tour is given on a first-come, first-served basis.

People who will be highlighted during this year's tour include:

• James Mulligan, a railroad worker who lost his hand on the job and later died of a heart attack;

• David Springer, a farmer and hotel owner who died after falling down a flight of stairs;

• Mary Kaiser, a young, poor woman who was treated for her mental illness at the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane in Elgin;

• Clara Haffey Church, wife of the first village president, who also had a mental illness but was treated at the more comfortable Rockford Sanitarium;

• Barbara Hahn, a hotel worker whose best friend died from an illegal abortion after becoming pregnant out of wedlock;

• Walter McAuley, who died of tuberculosis. His father donated land for the one-room McAuley schoolhouse.

Phalen said if the weather is nice, the event usually draws about 300 people.

"People are very committed," she said, adding that some have come for the past 25 years, or every year since they've moved to town.

Local musician Roger Kotecki will play historic ballads as guests stand in line to wait for their tour. There will be two musical performances during the tour as well, including a hymn from the late 1800s and a funeral song, Phalen said.

In addition, for the second year, residents can get a preview of the event with an interactive map online on the city's website, westchicago.org.

There is no mention of ghosts during the tours. Instead, they are meant to be family friendly, and a "cool, non-scary way to celebrate Halloween," Phalen said.

There will be lanterns and luminarias lighting up the cemetery, and volunteers telling the stories of the deceased will be dressed in historical costumes.

"It's a really cool experience at night, to be in the cemetery in the dark," Phalen said. "It takes you back in time."

The program is free, but donations to the West Chicago City Museum are appreciated. Refreshments will be served after the tours at the neighboring St. Mary Catholic Church.