Cemetery Walk

History lovers congregated at the Hampton Cemetery on Sunday, May 30 for a stroll through the gravestones as the Friends of the Cemetery hosted the third Cemetery Walk.

"It seems like there's a bigger group than ever before," said Brian Stevens, who helped organize the event. "It's good. I like to see people out in the cemetery." .

The toured walk had five stops as volunteers shared with the crowd the life history of notable Hamptonites buried on the cemetery grounds. Using local records and second hand knowledge from long-time residents of the community, the volunteers are able to piece together a detailed biography for the chosen subjects. .

Portraying former Sheriff and Hampton Mayor W.F. Swartz and his wife, Edith, Phil Strand and Jessica Miller recounted the story of the early 20th century couple from the prohibition era through the moon landing. .

Wally Tapp told the tale of William Wolf, a German born immigrant who fought and was wounded during the Civil War. .

Cinderella Hart, portrayed by Moli Gerken, was a 19th century housewife that navigated no end of family drama over her nearly 90 years on Earth. .

Donna Speedy told the group about the life of lawyer Robert Saley and Concha Saley. .

Beth Strand Voelker regaled the history of state legislator Walter Harriman and his wife Ellen. .

And Leon Kuehner told the tale of Dr. J.C. Powers, who guided Hampton through the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. .

Staggered groups made the rounds through the cemetery during the afternoon, either walking or riding in trailers. Along the way, Stevens showed off how the cemetery has been kept over the generations, pointing out where the city and the friends group will need to work on as gravestones shift and mausoleums degrade over decades of erosion. .

"People can see what's good about our cemetery and they can see what can be done to improve it," said Stevens.