Mount Prospect dead come to life at cemetery walk

If you see the late William Busse walking in a Mount Prospect cemetery this weekend, don't be alarmed. You're not seeing a ghost, but rather the latest installment of "Grave Conversations," a cemetery walk by the Mount Prospect Historical Society at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.

Local residents will be dressed up as men and women from Mount Prospect's past from 5 to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the cemetery on Elmhurst Avenue, just north of the Mount Prospect Post Office, 300 W. Central Road.

Visitors will be able to walk through the cemetery, talking to actors, who'll be portraying their characters.

"It's a way to make history more real to them and make people aware about how their community was founded," said Gregory Peerbolte, executive director of the historical society.

This year, 12 characters will be walking about, Peerbolte said. The costumed actors will be standing next to the gravestone of the deceased person, while talking about the lives they've lived. Spectators who ask questions will be answered by actors in character.

William Busse will be played by Trustee Paul Hoefert, Peerbolte said. Busse, who died in 1955, was a huge promoter of Mount Prospect. He was a Cook County commissioner, village mayor and was largely responsible for paving the roads, which was a big deal back then, Peerbolte said. He also founded the Mount Prospect State Bank, which now has been taken over by another bank.

J.E.A. Mueller, the first pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, will be played by John Drufke on one day and Tim Gainer on the other.

Police Officer Bill Roscop will play Edwin Haberkamp, one of the most dedicated residents of the village. He served on the Mount Prospect Fire Department from 1936 to 1970. Thirteen of those years he was the fire chief. He was elected vice president of the Great Lakes Division of the International Fire Chiefs Association.

Admission is $10. The money will go toward operating the historical society's museum.

For more information, call the society at (847) 392-9006.