ANOKA, Minn. (Oct. 4, 2013) – Cemeteries are often thought of sad and somewhat spooky places, but they are also filled with rich history. That history includes the lives of the individuals buried in the cemetery, but also the artwork and traditions encased in the stones.
Each fall, the Anoka County Historical Society leads a series of guided evening tours through area cemeteries. Although the tours, aptly named Monuments to Life, take place in October, they have nothing to do with Halloween and are not designed to be spooky. “They started with the idea that there is a tremendous amount of history and art and tradition and customs, and all sorts of things that can be wrapped together in a cemetery tour,” explains Anoka County Historical Society Program Manager Vickie Wendel.
The Monuments to Life, now in its fourteenth year, focuses on stories, traditions, history, and graveyard symbolism. Participants will learn how a grave from the 1800s can tell the life story of a person from the carvings in the stone. The tours will also look a new stones and seek to understand how our traditions have changed through the years.
A highlight of the tours for many is the stories that are shared, stories range from simple county residents who were not headline makers to some of the most well known figures in county history to individuals like Mr. Emerson who have a grave site that tells a fascinating story. Individuals who partake in the Oct. 12 tour of Forest Hills cemetery will be treated to a glimpse of the legacy that rests upon Mr. Emerson’s tombstone. “Mr. Emerson had a lot to say to the world,” Wendel begins. “We don’t know a whole lot about his life other than what he left us on his tombstone because he was a very private person.” What he did leave, however, was an epitaph reaching over 1,500 words in length. She continues, “He and his wife had some issues and they’re not buried side-by-side, and in fact it was noted in the paper that they were separated.” She notes that by all accounts, marital separation was quite the scandal for the 1890s.
The tours are limited to a small group, but that is intentional as the Historical Society wants to set a certain atmosphere for participants. “We only allow 25 people on a tour and that way we know everybody is able to get close enough to hear and move comfortably as a group.”
The Monuments to Life cemetery tours have something for the history buff, the art connoisseur, or the student of traditions, but above all, it offers an invaluable experience to anyone who loves a good story.
Single-tour registration is $7.00 for ACHS members $8.00 for non-members. 3-tour discount registration is also offered. Tour registration is available online or by calling the Anoka County History Center at 763-421-0600.
