Return to Voices From The Past, Saturday, April 14, from 1 to 4 pm.

            Last year the MHA Docents introduced a new program to Charlotte in the form of a graveyard tour called Voices From The Past. We invited the public to Settlers’ and Elmwood/Pinewood cemeteries.  There they visited fifty appropriately garbed portrayers each standing by a grave and assuming the persona of the grave’s occupant.  It was an enormous success.

            This year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of Charlotte, and all of the “residents” of our cemeteries were part of that history.  At Settlers’ you will find Thomas Polk, the driving force behind Charlotte’s founding in 1768.  Dr. Ephraim Brevard and General George Graham, heroes of the Revolution will be there with him.  At Elmwood you’ll find Dr. Annie Alexander, the South’s first licensed female physician.  Don’t miss Randolph Scott, the movie star.  Perhaps Mr. Harry, a funeral director at the time, will tell you about Scott’s embalming.  This year there will again be about fifty portrayers representing a broad swath of the past 250 years.  Check your latest MHA Docents Dandelion newsletter for information on parking, shuttle service and other details. 

 

 

Article from the MHA Docents Dandelion Newsletter, March and April.

Return to Voices From The Past, Saturday, April 14th, from 1 to 4 pm.

Last year the MHA Docents introduced a new program to Charlotte in the form of a graveyard tour called Voices From The Past.  Lynn Mintzer, one of our number, had attended similar events elsewhere, and brought the idea to the docent board.  The board decided to host the event, and Lynn agreed to be its chairman.  On April 1^st  we invited the public to Settlers’ and Elmwood/Pinewood cemeteries.  There they could visit about fifty appropriately garbed portrayers each standing by a grave and assuming the persona of the grave’s occupant.  It was an enormous success, and definitely worth repeating.

This year marks the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the city of Charlotte, and all of the “residents” of our cemeteries were part of that history.  At Settlers’ you will find Thomas Polk, the driving force behind Charlotte’s founding in 1768; he is not shy about taking credit for the deed.  Dr. Ephraim Brevard and General George Graham were also part of Charlotte’s early history and all three of them were heroes of the American Revolution.  At Elmwood you’ll find Dr. Annie Alexander, the South’s first licensed female physician.  She may be too modest to say that she, the only woman of a hundred applicants at the licensing exam, scored the highest.  And that was just the first of her great accomplishments.  Don’t miss Randolph Scott, the movie star.  Although he’s been gone for thirty years, his is Elmwood’s most visited gravesite.  Perhaps Mr. Harry, a funeral director at the time, will tell you about Scott’s embalming.  This year there will again be about fifty portrayers representing a broad swath of the past 250 years.  Some will be repeating last year’s presentation – our biggest complaint was there was not time enough to see everyone; consider this a second chance – and there will be some new characters you haven’t met before.

Lynn Mintzer, the docent who started it all, has agreed to be chairman again.  Last year she devoted many hours to the project bringing in the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society, Charlotte’s Center City Partners, Bill Bibby, director of Charlotte’s cemeteries, and obtaining a number of corporate sponsors.  She did a fabulous job, and using many of those same resources we are sure to have another stellar event.

There will be free parking along some of the wider lanes inside Elmwood Cemetery; all automobile traffic must enter through the Cedar Street entrance.  The gates will open at 11:30 am.  The main entrance on 6^th Street will be open to foot traffic only.  There are metered parking spaces on several of the streets near Settlers’: they are free all day on Saturdays.  Queen City Tours is providing a free golf cart shuttle service between Elmwood/Pinewood and Settlers’, and B-Cycle is providing bikes, also free, that can be ridden between the cemeteries and within Elmwood/Pinewood.  Cold bottled water will be available at the information tables.

Last year we had not expected so many visitors, about 800 we believe.  In spite of that the spacious cemeteries were not crowded.  This year we’ll be better prepared by printing many more programs, and having more volunteer guides including a group from Charlotte’s Children’s Theater.  Last year Mother Nature was more than kind and sent us an unusually warm and sunny day for early April.  Nevertheless we decided to schedule a rain date on Sunday, April 15^th.

So do put April 14^th on your calendar, and pass the word to your acquaintances about the event.  Perhaps at Elmwood you’ll meet the Victorian funeral directors; they can tell you of a bizarre way to absolve the deceased of their sins. And Gussie Berryhill is sure to have all the gossip of our more recent past.  Don’t miss the corner of Settlers’ that was reserved for “our servants”, a euphemism for slaves.  There you will find Aggie and Cherry, slaves who cared for white children when their mothers died, in addition to raising their own flocks.  Don’t be surprised if they gossip a bit about the white folks.  And the best has been saved for last; At Pinewood, originally called the “colored” cemetery hear the story about Fred Alexander, a black city councilman and mayor pro tem, who with great effort and perseverance succeeded in having the fence torn down between Elmwood and Pinewood, and now we can all rest together in God’s Acres.