The Salem Historical Commission’s first-ever ‘Tales from East Lawn’ Cemetery Tour Friday and Saturday nights. The tour sold out and only those with tickets will be allowed on the tour.
Those going on the tours are asked to park in the north parking lot of the Salem Community Activity Center and enter through the east or cafeteria door. You should arrive ten minutes before your tour leaves. Those on the tour will then be transported to the cemetery via golf cart for the program.
Historical Commission Chair Luke Purcell says they were surprised by the response.
“It went much better than expected. We sold out very quickly, so next year we plan to expand with more shows and maybe even an additional night so we can accommodate more people. This first year we wanted to get our feet underneath us and learn what we don’t know yet,” said Purcell.
The tour will visit eight graves with stories told by those in period costumes. Michelle Barbee will portray Mariah Bryan, the mother of William Jennings Bryan. Karen Short will portray Aunt Lulu Hull who started the Salem Woman’s Club and DAR, Levi Malan and Chelsea Duke will tell the story of Gypsie Sam Joles and his wife, and Nathan Duke will portray Matthew Young who along with his father Samuel were the first to settle Salem. Clint Stevens will play the role of newspaper editor John Merritt, Jim Husk will portray war veteran Colonel Stephen Hicks and Frank Brinkerhoff will portray the founder of Salem Mark Tully.
Proceeds will go to support Salem’s new history museum in the 100 block of South Broadway.
