Students from AHS presented the 6th annual Mount Albion Ghost Walk on Saturday, September 27th. They did an amazing job! (Click here to read a previous post about the history of the Ghost Walk)
This year, there were 66 students involved in the Ghost Walk and they took us around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Tour area for a trip back through history by bringing some of our more colorful ancestors to life. Here are some photos:
Alumni volunteers, Laura Marek and Jonathan Doherty offer Foundation info and the chance to browse old Chevrons
Old Chevrons were a hit while people waited for their tour
One of several guides – Sarah Graham
Each guide performed the important job of keeping each tour group together and on schedule, as well as provide interesting bits of information along the way
Kyle Thaine brought us Augusta, GA Governor Rufus Bullock (1834-1907)
Cheya Rain Eagle channeled Elizabeth Harriet Denio (1842-1922)
Daughter of John H. and Celinda Denio – she was a Doctor of Philosophy and enjoyed wearing mens pants and smoking the occasional cigar
Zach Shaffer was Judge Noah Davis (1818-1902) – Congressman and US District Attorney
Elijah VanEpps brought us David Hardie (1821-1896)
Born in Scotland, he was the first man to raise a volunteer company from Orleans County to fight in the Civil War
Gabi Struble portrayed Polly Ingersoll (wife of Nehemiah – 1788-1868)
William Pecorella conjured up the ghost of Starr Chester (1813-1879), a shoe maker in Gaines, NY
Madison Flor portrayed Dr. Elizabeth Vaile (1832-1873)
Elizabeth practiced medicine for about 10 years in the Albion area during the Civil War and often visited soldiers in the field
Vivian Rivers appeared as Emily Pullman (1808-1892)
Shannon Broda brought us Laura Goodrich Ward – wife of Judge Alexis Ward (1802-1854)
Laura’s husband, Alexis was an Orleans County Judge from 1830-1840 and was instrumental in coordinating the Rochester-Lockport-Niagara Falls Railroad
Elijah Martin portrayed Hiram Curtis (1804-1871) – a successful businessman and foundry owner
Riley Seielstad channeled the ghost of Jennie Curtis (1837-1921) – daughter of Hiram Curtis
Jennie was a spirited young woman who was considered to be the first female prisoner of the Civil War – thought to be a Yankee Spy, charges that were eventually dropped
Emma Wadhams appeared as Caroline Phipps Achilles (1812-1881)
Caroline began teaching in a log school at Gaines Basin at the age of 14 – after teaching for several years, she built and ran the Phipps Union Female Seminary – open to girls from all over NY State, located where the current County Clerk’s Office now stands
Evan Steier brought us Judge Arad Thomas (1807-1889)
Arad was Albion’s Justice of the Peace for 8 years, was elected Orleans County Judge, formed the Orleans County Pioneer and Historical Association, and wrote the book “Pioneer History of Orleans County”
Our guide, Sarah Graham, provided several bits of information about Mt. Albion Cemetery along our tour – including this story of a lady who laid out her tombstone like a table covering her grave so that no one could walk across it…..a practice that was more prevalent in the south, than here in the north
In addition to the ghosts, there were several stops along the tour to enjoy musical entertainment by various students:
These young ladies represented a typical Sunday picnic in the cemetery’s park-like setting – they also got up to entertain us with a song and dance, as families typically did during their picnics
Some girls singing on the next tier down from the tour group
A group singing at the entrance to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Tower
The Mount Albion Ghost Walk Organizers / Advisors
(l-r): Mike Thaine, Sue Starkweather Miller, Gary Simboli
Posted by Kim Wright Pritt
Photos courtesy of Kim Wright Pritt and Sue Starkweather Miller
