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‘A Harvest Moon Cemetery Tour’ travels once again in Fredonia

Submitted Photo The Gate House at Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia.

“One of the most beautiful cemeteries in Western New York is Forest Hill…” So begins a history of the cemetery located in Fredonia, New York (Fredonia is located at Exit 59 of I-90). On Friday and Saturday, FestivalsFredonia — noted for their “History & Ghost Tours” — will host horse-drawn trolley tours every half hour through a historic cemetery. The tours begin at 7 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. The trolleys will load passengers at the Gazebo in Barker Common Park on Church Street and return to the same area. Each year the trolley tours sell out — don’t be left standing in the cold — go on line now to order your tickets at www.festivalsfredonia.org.

If you think that cemeteries are just places where the departed rest, you are quite mistaken. Apart from preserving the memory of those near and dear, cemeteries are art galleries, horticultural gardens, history museums, and puzzles to be deciphered. And no better place to experience this than Fredonia’s Forest Hill on Lambert Avenue.

Forest Hill Cemetery, adjacent to Pioneer Cemetery with its origins in the early 19th century, is in many ways a time capsule of the town’s history. Forest Hill Cemetery is still an active cemetery where our dearly departed are still placed for final rest each day, as they have been for almost 200 years. From monuments commemorating our founders’ families, Fredonia’s national heroes, Revolutionary, Union and Confederate soldiers, and artists, to entrepreneurs and industrialists who also gained wide recognition, each turn in the cemetery’s pathways uncovers stories that should not remain a secret.

Take, for example, the story of the Fredonia Normal school fire which claimed the lives of seven people (including six female students) and destroyed the Fredonia Normal School building on Dec. 14, 1900. A mystery still surrounds them as each year flowers can be found on the monument in Forest Hill honoring these seven poor souls, yet no one seems to know where the flowers come from or how they got there. Dr. Squire White, one of the founders of the community, is also laid to rest in Forest Hill. He was the first physician to set up practice in Chautauqua County and was an uncle to the Cushing brothers who served bravely in the Civil War. The property now occupied by the White Inn, which was once the exclusive domain of the Indians, came into the hands of Dr. White early in the nineteenth century. In 1811, he erected a frame house on the site, making it the permanent residence of the White family. Hear tales of the White Inn’s grisly murder/suicide and a former owner who can’t bare to leave — hauntings, sightings and occurrences — all recent. Care to book a room with more than a view?

Ever wonder why there is a lone Confederate soldier buried in Pioneer Cemetery, the cemetery adjacent to Forest Hill or who’s buried under the large Celtic cross within the gates?

For nearly 200 years Forest Hill has been a place for souls at “rest,” souls who have “gone home” and some who aren’t quite sure yet!

There are tales to excite, amaze, and unnerve even the most enlightened history buff.

The tour winds its way through the dark cemetery — through heroes, founding members and some of the most notoriously scary villains. The tour is recommended for those ages 8 and up, but on occasion even some of the local residents from Forest Hill older than 108 often enjoy joining us for the tours. Once again, reservations are a must and seating is limited on the trolleys, there will only be seven trolleys each night, so don’t wait to book your tour into the past!

Go to the website www.festivalsfredonia.org to get the details and order your tickets now. Tickets are only being sold on-line this year and are $12.50 each, which includes refreshments at tour’s end. Tours will run rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. Walk up tickets will be done on a first-come basis, if space is still available, the nights of the tours at the gazebo in Barker Commons — cash only.

To learn more about FestivalsFredonia or about upcoming events in Fredonia check out the website at www.festivalsfredonia.org or go on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Festivals-Fredonia/146712751224. Festivals Fredonia, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501-c-3 organization in partnership with the village of Fredonia, the town of Pomfret, area merchants, organizations and volunteers. We are dedicated to providing quality events and entertainment for the community and our supporters.

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