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Editor's
Recommendation:
For readers looking for an entertaining evening with strong (but painless)
historical undercurrents - try taking the LaGrange cemetery tour.
We don't normally announce events in Texas Escapes, but cemetery tours,
especially when they're done in cooperation with knowledgeable historic
advisors, are what we'd like to see spread around the state. They
can raise money and they can be fun, but among the many benefits of
these tours, we see the best coming from student participation and
involvement. There's no shortage of poignant graveyard stories - and
let's face it - the stories of the dead are frequently more interesting
than the lives of your co-workers. Your town does has a cemetery,
doesn't it? Come to LaGrange and see how it's done properly. They
won't mind if you take notes. If your town decides to hold cemetery
tours, contact us and we'll see that the tour receives notice on your
town page. - Editor |
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One
of the LaGrange Cemetery gravesites
Photo Courtesy Kathy Carter / Fayette Heritage Museum |
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La
Grange "Ghosts and Gravestones" Cemetery Tour
By The Fayette Heritage Museum
The increasingly popular La Grange "Ghosts and Gravestones" Cemetery
tour is sponsored this year by the Anchor Club of La Grange and
the Friends of the Library. The tours will be conducted on the evenings
of November 2nd and November 7th, at the Old La Grange City Cemetery.
The early history of La Grange comes alive as Anchor Club members
share informative and entertaining details about the lives and deaths
of 19 prominent citizens of Fayette County buried at sites selected
for this year's tour. Twelve new graves or headstones will join
seven popular sites that have been featured before, and the nineteen
will be offered in two separate tours. This guarantees the sharing
of new stories for those who have attended previously.
This year you will be introduced to politicians, postmasters and
even a candidate for Governor. You will meet doctors, druggists,
lawyers, ministers and farmers. Businessmen and women, debutantes,
teachers and writers will share their lives. You will hear the tales
of pioneer Czech & German immigrants, and of soldiers and survivors
of the Prussian, Mexican and Civil Wars. The first white child born
in La Grange will tell you about her life and you will hear the
tragic story of her husband's death. Yellow Fever will be on hand
to tell of its part in the worst tragedy to ever befall La Grange.
And little Nellie Mann will tear at your heart with her sorrowful
story.
All activities for this "haunting" evening will begin under the
tents located just inside the cemetery gates at the College Street
entrance. The purchase of a $10.00 tour ticket will include a tour
plus a box supper that will most certainly include dessert. In addition,
a "mini" exhibit from the Fayette Heritage Museum about Fayette
County cemeteries will be located alongside the dining area.
Each tour group is limited to 10 people plus a tour guide and is
scheduled on the quarter hour beginning at 6:15 p.m November 2nd
and November 7th. Supper can be enjoyed ahead of the tour or after
its completion. The last tour will begin at 7:45 p.m.
Due to the
uniqueness of this year's tour format, it is important that those
wishing to attend to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are available
at the Fayette Public Library in La Grange during regular hours.
Purchase your tickets early and you will be able to pick your preferred
tour and time. Call Kathy at 979-969-3765 for information.
Funds raised from the event will benefit Anchor Club programs and
the Capital Campaign Fund for Library, Museum & Archives Expansion.
Anchor Club is the youth project of the Pilot Club of La Grange
and is a service organization made up of La Grange High School students
who wish to make a difference through community service. The Friends
of the Library support and promote the interest and welfare of the
Library, Museum & Archives as a cultural and educational asset to
the community.
- The Fayette Heritage Museum
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