Enactors Matt and Ashely Pulley portray Fred and Bessie Seniff (1888-1942 & 1886-1955) during the 2014 North Webster Cemetery Walk sponsored by the North Webster Community Public Library’s Local History and Genealogy Center. This year’s event is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Sept. 13.

By TERRY RITTER
Public Relations Coordinator, North Webster Community Public Library

NORTH WEBSTER — The North Webster Community Public Library will host its 9th annual Cemetery Walk, 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Open to the public free of charge, this living history event is sponsored by the library’s Local History and Genealogy Center.

During the Cemetery Walk, the library conducts guided walking tours through the North Webster Cemetery where enactors are stationed throughout the cemetery portraying individuals who are buried there. As the enactors tell their life stories, visitors learn about local history and the people who formed the fabric of the community in years gone by.

The 2015 Cemetery Walk will feature the late JoAnn Harrison (1931-2010) portrayed by Lori Hickman; Lewis Kiser (1800-1885) portrayed by Russell Boucher; Aquilla Lewallen (1869-1961) portrayed by Forrest Boesenberg; Charles Dewey Scott (1897-1974) portrayed by Gary Earnhart; Dick Shock (1930-2005) portrayed by Doug Shock; Minnie and Ezra Shock (1895-1988 & 1889-1980) portrayed by Cara and Eric Erlenwein; Clara Rose and Donald Wagoner (1923-1994 & 1918-2000) portrayed by Tom Davis and Paula Markely; and Caroline and Jonathan Wyland (1861-1939 & 1862-1925) portrayed by Matt and Ashley Pulley.

The deceased persons featured in this year’s Cemetery Walk were selected from a Cemetery Walk Essay Contest held in March in which patrons researched and submitted essays about the life of a person buried in the local cemetery. The essay writers are Deborah Lovellette writing about JoAnn Harris, Paula Markely writing about Lewis Kiser, Faye Myers writing about Aquilla Lewallen, Cindy Keirn writing about Charles Dewey Scott, Brad Leedy writing about Clara Rose and Donald Wagoner, Debbie Conner writing about Minnie and Ezra Shock, Doug Bowser writing about Dick Shock and Rebecca Pressler writing about Caroline and Jonathan Wyland.

Guided walking tours begin at the library, located at 301 N. Main Street in North Webster, and leave every 15 minutes between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The North Webster Cemetery is within a short walking distance from the library. Golf cart shuttles will be available for people who have difficulty walking.

The Friends of the Library organization will furnish free refreshments while patrons wait for their tour to begin or after their tour ends. Free entertainment is also part of the event.

For more information, contact Local History and Genealogy Center Director Beth Smith, at (574) 834-7122 ext. 205. Videos of past Cemetery Walks are available for viewing on the library’s website.