Historical Figures came from around the cemetery to meet the trolley and tell their story.
Sunday’s Cuba Fest-related historical tour of Kinder Cemetery “Echoes from the Past” was a hit. From 11:00 to 4:00 trolley riders took the ride from Recklein Commons to the cemetery where figures from Cuba’s history boarded the trolley as it wound its way through the cemetery. Due to popular demand, an extra tour was included at the end of the day.
Costumed appropriately to portray their characters, the historical figures came from all over the cemetery and boarded the “Grave Line Tour” to share their stories with wit, wonder, and their personal view of history.
Brig. Gen. Brown had no use for Southern sympathizers on the tour.
Civil War Brig. Gen. Egbert Benton Brown explained how he fought for the Union Army and after the war visited his scout Jerome Alyn Stanton where he lived in Cuba. Finding the area to his liking, he and his wife bought property in Cuba and shared many happy years in the area. Brown had little patience for any on the tour with Southern sympathies.
The Tiemans seem to have differences concerning his disappearance.
Henry Herman Tieman, owner of Prosperity Corner where Hayes Shoe Store now sits, and his wife Elizabeth discussed the fact of Henry’s disappearance and move to Shreveport, Louisiana. He was a an innovative businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Dr. Walter Sherman Cox, Cuba’s doctor for over 34 years, had inside information on Cuba’s citizens.
Dr. Walter Sherman Cox, Cuba’s doctor for 34 years, alderman, and mayor shared some of his knowledge of Cuba’s citizens. However, as the good doctor said, some things that “happened in the 1900s should stay in the 1900s.”
Fenetta Sargent Haskell presented a reading from her book In the Cup of Those HIlls. Tour host Alexander Fleming, a founder of the cemetery, looks on.
Fenetta Sargent Haskell came from the unusual and talented family Sargent family, all of who are buried in Kinder. She married W.H. Haskell, a poet, orator, traveling salesman, and merchant. He built the beautiful stone mansion on the grounds of the Catholic Church for her. She was a noted elocutionist, dramatist, and writer of In the Cup of Those Hills, which is now available on Amazon for over $100. Fenetta graced tourers with a brief reading from her book.
Elizabeth Parks, who sang at the 1904 World’s Fair, led the group in singing “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
Elizabeth Parks was a born musician who sang at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. She also taught music a Lindenwood College and toured the U.S. singing. On Sunday, she boarded the trolley to tell her story and lead the group in the tune “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
J.M. Wallace built the stately Wallace House, which still welcomes Cubans to special events.
J.M. Wallace came to Cuba from Pennsylvania to open a store. He built his fine brick home in 1885, which still stands today to welcome the citizens of Cuba to special events. In 1928, his widow sold the home to the Methodist Church, where generations of Cubans got their religious training. In 1940, aspiring senator Harry S. Truman gave a speech on the steps of the church.
Elizabeth Lewis Saigh lefta sizable endowment to benefit Cuba students.
Elizabeth Lewis Saigh, one of nine brothers and sisters, was descended from a family of community leaders. She graduated from Cuba in 1933 and never forgot her days at the old school. She married Fred Saigh, the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals before the Busch family owned them, and she left over two million dollars to the Crawford County R-II School to support academics for future Cuba students.
It was appropriate, that Alexander Fleming, an Irishman and a member of one of the founding families of Cuba, hosted the tour and introduced the historical figures to the trolley riders. He helped organize the Presbyterian Church in 1871 and built a meetinghouse that sat where Kinder Cemetery is today, on the northeast corner of the United Presbyterian Cemetery. On Sunday, Fleming saw more activity in his “home” than he had seen for many a year.
One can only wonder how the cemetery tour committee will top this year’s tour. Any suggestions?
The Viva Cuba Graveline Tour met an enthusiastic response during Cuba Fest.
Fennetta Sargent Haskell poses in the family plot.
Gen. Brown credits a visit to his old army scout Stanton in bringing him to live in Cuba.
On Route 66: The trolley leaves the historical figures of Cuba in repose–until next year.
[…] another note about Cuba, here’s a blog post from the Viva Cuba site about the “Echos from the Part” tour last weekend. Participants rode a trolley […]