Cemetery monuments play an important role in society. They not only honor the deceased, but they also connect us to our past in a tangible way that helps preserve our cultural identity. In fact, the letters, numbers, and symbols carved into these stones are often the only public, physical record of the deceased’s lifetime and how families wished them to be remembered.

While many of us find solace by gazing upon the markers of our departed friends and family, we don’t often consider the talented artisans who build these amazing works of art and the often unique stories of their lives. Did you know, for example, that Fredonia was home to a stone cutter who murdered his wife? His death was quite the public spectacle requiring him to be hanged not once … but twice!

Principal Technology Security Architect, firefighter, and independent researcher Dr. Catherine J. Ullman shares this riveting story, among others, during this lecture about the history of local stone cutters.

Admission to the lecture is free, with donations gratefully accepted. Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

The lecture “The Stone Cutters of Fredonia: Headstones and Beyond” will take place Thursday, Sept. 11 at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.