The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
A Visit With The Spirits
by Dessa Rodeffer/Quill Publisher/Owner
During HERITAGE TRAILS, several miles northwest of Stronghurst in the small settlement of Olena, an"unforgettable evening" of drama and history took place at sundown at the Olena Cemetery. The spirits of nine men who were buried there actually were seated or stood near their headstones. There were lanterns and equipment which they had used when they had lived active lives here in Henderson County in the 1800s.
It was the perfect fall evening for such a venture, and the moon was almost full as it peered through the trees of the cemetery. As the darkness progressed and the light from the lanterns flickered across the faces of the spirits telling of their life they had lived, it all seemed to be so real - the characters - the stories - almost as if you had gone back in time.
The two hosts, the undertaker, and the nine guides were all dressed in the old clothes of "back then" and appropriately black, as a mourner at a cemetery would properly dress.
There is, of course, a somewhat eerie effect associated with a cemetery, especially after dusk.
Stories written by Mark Twain came vividly to mind as I walked with my 12 year old grandson, Drew among other groups who were being bussed from the Olena Baptist Church to the Cemetery due to the lack of parking spaces along the small gravel road that goes by the cemetery.
The busing idea was actually a good plan as it helped regulate the one hundred and fifty visitors who went through this year and it gave time for Pastor Larry Lambert to introduce people to the Olena Church and to tell some of its interesting history. Jennifer Ewing of Security Savings greeted people as the church hostess for the Cemetery Walk, helping line up visitors for the shuttle.
Either Dick Clifton or John and Diane Dughan shuttled groups to the cemetery. They were greeted by the undertaker played by Curt Eisenmayer, outside the OLENA CEMETERY archway entrance. Curt described how the bodies were taken care of and how burials were done in the early days explaining how the embalming was done in homes
Co-sponsors Diana Taylor and Sue Lyon were co-hosts at the gate and stood among the nine guides. It made for quite a sight in their elaborate dress attire, black shoes to black fancy hats.
Guides were Mary Lee Taylor, Debbie Gillam, Sharon Graham, Jo Stull, Melinda Whiteman, Linda Clifton, Vicky Keever, Sally Waddell, and Diane Lange.
Once inside the cemetery, a spirit stood up by his tombstone and welcomed the visitors, introducing himself and telling them of his interesting life and fateful death in some instances.
Research for each character was done by Virginia Ross who lived most of her married life down the road from the cemetery with husband Bill who played one of the spirits - his great grandfather. Virginia is a historian and has a genealogy business.
The nine actors who were asked to portray a spirit used Virginia's information to tell their stories. Diana Taylor took great pains to bring authentic costumes for characters bringing you into the era of each spirit.
Spirits of the past were pretty much like characters of today, some with a colorful personality. Those who took part were chosen for their ability to express these personalities and did a great job in entertaining the audience as they told them a little bit more about their Henderson County Heritage.
It didn't tell all the details but gave you a taste of their character and their life. and just, maybe it made you curious enough that you might want to find out more and see what you can add to their stories.
CYRUS W. STEELE 1818-1886/ by Jon Graham.
THE UNDERTAKER played by Curt Eisenmayer