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James Harrod Trust, The Harrodsburg Herald present cemetery tour

September 14, 2009

HARRODSBURG — Just before sun sets Friday and Saturday, history will be underfoot — literally — in the Spring Hill Cemetery. On those two evenings, six — or more — of Harrodsburg's famous or infamous figures will help guests touring the cemetery to relive a little history.

The historic characters will be James Harrod Trust members and friends acting as costumed interpreters bringing to life the color and history of some of this community's forefathers. The cemetery tour, hosted by James Harrod Trust and sponsored by The Harrodsburg Herald, offers visitors a unique and fun way to learn about the history of the state's oldest settlement and the people who lived, fought and died in the community.

This will be the sixth annual James Harrod Trust "History Underfoot" Cemetery Tour designed to relive a little history. The tours will be guided by James Harrod Trust members and will feature visits to at least six grave sites. At each grave, costumed interpreters will be in character leading a discussion about the lives of their subjects.

This year's historic characters will include:

Jerry Sampson as W. W. Stephenson, a noted Harrodsburg attorney and the first president of Harrodsburg Historical Society

Richard Stallings as Daniel Curry, a well-known businessman who lived both in the Daniel Curry house (Rich and Nancy Ross Stallings' historic house on North Main Street) and in Rocky Point with his second wife. (Curry put the mansard roof on the house.)

Nancy Ross Stallings as Susan Herndon Pettibone, mother of well-known Harrodsburg artist May Pettibone Hardin. She was married to George Pettibone of New York and had a rough life at Diamond Point.

Annie Denny as Maria Thompson Daviess, a local historian who wrote "History of Mercer & Boyle Counties" and was from two well-known families who were embroiled in scandal.

Amalie Preston as Eliza Schackleford, who was dubbed the "Angel of The Battlefield." She responded to the call of the Civil War, and during and after the war gave aid to soldiers from both sides.

Harrodsburg's poet, Louise Dean, will read a poem she wrote about the Bataan Death March Soldiers.

Some historic figures portrayed in recent years have included Robert Mosby Davis, Mollie Marcum, Jane McAfee Magoffin, Capt. John Haggin, Lizzie Hardin, the Rev. Jessie Head and James Powers.

Tickets are sold at the entrance to the cemetery and are $5 each. The tours are staggered to leave on the half hour. The tours are from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call Helen Dedman at (859) 734-3381, the Harrodsburg/Mercer County Tourist Commission at 734-2364 or Jerry Sampson at 734-7829.

This "edutainment" event is enjoyable for the whole family.

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