Summer tours planned for Mount Albion, Hillside cemeteries
Torch-lit tour of Downtown Albion set for September
Press Release, Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard stops at the Pullman family grave at Mount Albion Cemetery during a tour of the cemetery in August 2016. James Lewis Pullman, father of sleeping car magnate George Pullman, is buried at Albion’s historic cemetery.
The Orleans County Department of History in partnership with the Orleans County Historical Association will host a series of cemetery and community tours in August and September.
• August 4th at 6 p.m. – Mt. Albion Cemetery, Albion
This “Movers and Shakers” tour will explore the gravesites of notable Orleans County residents including Roswell Burrows, John Proctor, Rufus Bullock, and Elizabeth Denio. Visitors will have the opportunity to stop at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The group will assemble at the cemetery chapel and depart at 6:05 p.m. – this tour includes large hills.
• August 11th at 6 p.m. – Mt. Albion Cemetery, Albion
A “Wealthy, Famous, and Eccentric” tour will take visitors on journey through Orleans County’s most interesting residents, including E. K. Hart, Hank Porter, Charlie Howard, and Lewis Sands. The group will assemble at the cemetery chapel and depart at 6:05 p.m. – this tour route is relatively flat.
• August 18th at 6 p.m. – Mt. Albion Cemetery, Albion
Through “Courage and Honor,” visitors will tour the gravesites of local veterans including Jesse Brooks, Andrew Hall, Ross Brown, William Collins, Virginia Sheret, and Charles Harris, a local Medal of Honor recipient. The group will assemble at the cemetery chapel and depart at 6:05 p.m. – this tour route is relatively flat.
• August 25th at 6 p.m. – Mt. Albion Cemetery, Albion
This concluding tour, “Pioneers and Politicians,” will take visitors to the gravesites of Albion’s most interesting pioneer and political figures; stops will include Ben Field, George Ough, Calvin and Juliette Beach, and a stop at the grave of Joseph Van Camp, whose home was the site of Orleans County’s most gruesome murder. The group will assemble at the cemetery chapel and depart at 6:05 p.m. – this tour route includes some larger hills.
• September 8th at 6 p.m. – Hillside Cemetery, Clarendon
Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard and Clarendon Town Historian Melissa Ierlan will lead a tour of Hillside Cemetery as part of the Orleans County Heritage Festival. The group will meet at the cemetery chapel and depart at 6:05 p.m.
• September 13th & 14th at 8 p.m. – Murder & Mayhem: Torch-lit Tour of Downtown Albion
Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian, will lead guests on a nighttime tour of downtown Albion. Come hear the stories of the disappearance of William Morgan, Nehemiah Ingersoll’s crafty plan to secure the county seat, the murder of Pierpont Dyer, Albert Warner’s theft of thousands from the First National Bank of Albion, the murder of Alice Wilson, and many more! Guests are encouraged to bring a flashlight, wear comfortable shoes, and pack an umbrella (just in case!).
The tour will meet at 34 E. Park Street in Albion (Central Hall) and will include a stop at the Downtown Browsery for free snacks. Visitors are encouraged to visit restaurants and shops downtown prior to the tour and should bring a flashlight.
All tours are free and open to the public, no advanced registration is required. Tours will take place rain or shine, so bring an umbrella or jacket in case of inclement weather. Additional information about upcoming events and notifications about changes or cancellations can be found on the Department of History’s Facebook page or the Historian’s website, www.orleansny.com/historian.
