Learn about history at Cemetery Walk in Elgin

Submitted by Elgin Area Historical Society

History comes to life at the 25th annual Cemetery Walk at Bluff City Cemetery from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23.

The Elgin Area Historical Society presents this special quarter century celebration of educating and entertaining visitors who enjoy both history and dramatic presentations. There will be nine characters on the walk this year including:

Ÿ Carl Parlasca, founder and director of Elgin’s long-running Hiawatha Pageant.

Ÿ George and Mary Lord, generous philanthropists who gave Lords Park to the city of Elgin.

Ÿ Dr. Anne W. Martin, an early Elgin physician who specialized in water therapy and never forgot her Scottish heritage.

Ÿ Myrtle Jahns served in the military during World War II and was the first woman veteran to be buried in the military section at Bluff City Cemetery.

Ÿ John Park Brown, curator of the Audubon Museum in Lords Park, worked at the Watch Factory for 40 years. He was also a musician, poet and lover of nature.

Ÿ Accident victim Francis “Shanty” Pask was hospitalized for 27 years at Sherman Hospital. His mother, Maryann Pask, turned over the deed to her house to assure lifetime care for Shanty.

Ÿ Peder Rovelstad and his brother Andrew opened a jewelry store in downtown Elgin in 1883.

Ÿ Nancy Currier Kimball, one of Elgin’s pioneer women, arrived in Elgin in 1837. She lived to be 100 years old.

Visitors enjoy a guided tour of the Bluff City Cemetery by a costumed guide with special short performances by volunteer actors at the graves of past Elginites.

Bluff City Cemetery is at 945 Bluff City Blvd. on Elgin’s southeast side.

Admission is $8 on the day of the walk, or $7 in advance. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St., Elgin, or Ace Hardware, 215 N. Spring St., and the Ace Hardware, 1158 N. Lillian St. in Elgin. Tickets for seniors and students, age 13 to 18, are $5 each at all times. Children under 12 are admitted free.

New this year! A new book, “Silent City: A History of Elgin’s City Cemeteries,” commemorates the cemetery walk and gives a short history of each of Elgin’s three cemeteries. The book is $15.95 each, available the day of the walk, at the Elgin History Museum, or at Ace Hardware stores in Elgin.

For details, call (847) 742-4248 or visit www.elginhistory.org.