Tales from the ages (WITH GALLERY)
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Floye Cook stands by the abbey at Woodland Cemetery as she tells of the life of Mary White Slater, during the annual Historic Walk at the cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
John and Michelle Cook greet visitors as Christian and Martha Yingling in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Visitors to the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday listen to one of the presentations. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Hunter Humphreys, as Dustin “Ducky” Corn, regales attendees with tales of his exploits, in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Jimmy and Sue Ann Moore portray Halsey and Harriet Burr in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Attorney Mark McCown portrays Ironton Austin Kelly in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Lola Brohard portrays Nellie Lowry in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Sue Lunsford portrays Sarah Campbell in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Ironton Mayor Sam Cramblit II acts as the spokesperson for Col. William C. Lambert and tells passersby about the life of the World War I flying ace in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Scott Mann tells visitors of the life of Thomas Means in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Abby Kuehne tells the ghostly tale of Osa Wilson in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Veronica Poyner depicts ironmaster Nannie Kelly Wright in the Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery on Saturday. This year marked a change for the role of Wright, with Poyner taking over for museum trustee Kay Rader, who had appeared in the part for many years. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Historic Walk returns to Woodland Cemetery
One of the most popular draws in county events brought out its typically strong crowd on Saturday, as the Historic Walk returned to Woodland Cemetery.
“It’s a great way to get the community to learn local history,” Nicole Cox, a trustee for the Lawrence County Museum, who organizes the walk, said.
Cox said, this year, they had 33 people from the community who portrayed the notable figures buried on the grounds, ranging from World War I flying ace Col. William C. Lambert to ironmaster Nannie Kelly Wright to famed author and illustrator Edward Gorey to Waterloo Wonders coach Magellan Hairston.
Two new figures were added to the route this year, which hundreds walked — World War I Medal of Honor recipient Dean Gilfillan and jet funny car racer Roger Gustin.
Some of the re-enactors included veteran performers, such as Sue Lunsford, portraying Sarah Campbell, while Ironton Mayor Sam Cramblit II took a first turn at telling about the life of Lambert.
“I’m his spokesman,” Cramblit said, as he stood next to a display of Lambert’s uniform.
The re-enactments covered a variety of moods. Visitors were told the ghostly tale of the statue on the grave of Osa Wilson, heard colorful stories about “Ducky” Corn and were inspired by the triumphs of Hairston.
This year was a passing of the torch for the portrayal of Wright, one of the most popular figures on the route, who had been portrayed for several years by Kay Rader, a trustee at the museum. This year, a junior at tri-State STEM+M Early College High School, stepped into the role.
Woodland Cemetery was dedicated in 1871, its site being on land purchased from the “Old Judge Newton Farm” for $10,000. More than 29,000 people are buried on the grounds.
Cox said the museum is already planning for next year’s walk, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the event.
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