Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery is set to present its second Cemetery History Walk ‘Visions of Historic Mason City’ to provide another opportunity for people to connect with the community’s history and realize a deeper appreciation for the cemetery.
The History Walk is Saturday, September 17th with guided tours beginning every 12 minutes, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Each tour is expected to take approximately 80 minutes. Tickets are $7.00 and will be available at the event.
A Cemetery History Walk is a trip into the past where participants experience history with the help of costumed actors. The actors portray historic people buried in the cemetery, sharing highlights of their lives and contributions to the community, state and the nation.
This year’s event will be featuring the following people:
Minnie Melson, 1861-1915, schoolteacher and first wife of developer Joshua Melson;
Burrows ‘Burr’ Kirk, 1841-1918, established the first livery stable in Mason City;
Elizabeth Stanton, 1893-1944, operated the Stanton Hotel with husband John;
Anton T. ‘Tony’ Swartz, 1856-1943, Orphan Boy who came west from New York City;
J.C. ‘Chunk’ Williams, 1860-1941, old west horse trader and a reputed ‘dead’ shot;
Albert F. ‘Henry’ Chilson, 1846-1939, Civil War veteran and stagecoach driver;
Alonzo Willson, 1822-1912, grandfather of Meredith Willson;
Peter and Catherine Gribben, 1855-1944, Irish immigrants, parents of Leo Gribben.
Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery is a fascinating place filled with majestic monuments and mausoleums honoring city founders, war veterans and famous citizens. It also reflects the cultural heritages and diverse religious faiths of the many families that have lived in Mason City and the surrounding area.
The mission of Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery is to provide our community, its citizens and their families exceptional cemetery services in a respectful, caring manner. With approximately 100 acres of grounds in the heart of Mason City, it continues to be an active cemetery while preserving its historic elements.
For more information, call the cemetery office at 641-421-3687.
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