Local history comes alive at the 14th annual North Webster Cemetery Walk

Enactor Victor LaBarbera played Dr. Benjamin Kuhn during last year’s Cemetery Walk. This year he will portray Thomas Crouch (1881-1950). (Photo provided)

North Webster Community Public Library will host its 14th annual Cemetery Walk in a new format Sunday, Sept. 13.

This living history event will take place inside the library’s large event room with four performances at 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Standing in front of large photos of the grave sites, live enactors will portray and tell the life stories of individuals buried in the North Webster Cemetery. Through the lives of these individuals, the audience learns about local history.

Those being honored in this year’s Cemetery Walk are Isaac Johnson (1824-1922) portrayed by Stuart Smith, William and Emma Buell Upson (1849-1945/1855-1934) portrayed by Matt Pulley, Marshall Makemson (1845-1928) portrayed by Gary Earnhart and Thomas Crouch (1881-1950) portrayed by Victor LaBarbera. Research was done by Cindy Keirn and Helen Leitch.

The Cemetery Walk is free and open to the public. The four performance times will accommodate smaller audiences for social distancing with chairs spaced apart and separate entrance and exit doors. In between performances, guests are invited to tour the new library facility which opened July 13.

North Webster Community Public Library is located on the corner of SR 13 and E. North Street in North Webster, directly south of the North Webster Community Center.

For more information, contact Adult Services Director Beth Smith, at 574-834-7122. Videos of past Cemetery Walks are available for viewing on the library’s website at
www.nweb.lib.in.us/indiana_room/walk.