The menacing growl of thunder and dark skies were not enough to stop several visitors from continuing their tour of Fort Hill Cemetery Sunday afternoon.
Conducted by the Community Preservation Committee's Collin Sullivan, the tour gave people a chance to see why some local historians believed Auburn was the center of the universe.
“Auburn was a place where in the last 10 years people have become more excited about their history,” Sullivan said. “There is a spirit of pride and a spirit of progress, and that's why people want to connect with the past to become a part of this history.”
When the tour started, the skies were clear, the sun was shinning, and the visitors stuck next to the large shady trees to shelter themselves from the heat as Sullivan discussed the impact of local legends such as William Seward, Harriet Tubman, Jerome Holland, Thomas Osbourne and
Theodore Pomeroy on local and national history.
Sullivan also debunked various myths and told tall tales about past legends.
One such myth was that the cemetery was located on the ruins of an old fort despite the lack of any archeological evidence to collaborate that claim. Some people have even speculated that the small gaps in the side of the hill used to be gates to enter the complex, but Sullivan said so many gates would have been a strategic disaster because they would have been the weak points in the wall's defense.
As for the tales, Sullivan believed it was important to mix the history and the legends together.
“They kind of make it more fun and entertaining,” Sullivan said. “I want this to be something fun that people choose to do because they think it's a great time, and at the same time they learn something about the area.”
But eventually the clear skies were replaced with gray clouds and lighting lit up the horizon. The crowd anxiously looked to the sky as the thunder got louder and closer with each crackle. At one point Sullivan gave the group a chance to head back to their cars, but only half of the nearly 35 people headed for the parking lot.
Those that remained listened and asked questions while Sullivan attempted to give a speed tour, cutting out some historical aspects of Silvester Willard and Theodore Case, among others.
The sudden down pour of rain mixed with the bolts of lighting flashing across the sky directly overhead sent the remaining visitors scrambling for their cars before Sullivan could completely share his 15 years of knowledge on local history.
But Sullivan believed that if his passion rubbed off onto the visitors, he could see some of them return for the final tour on Oct. 2.
“I was concerned that this might be the only time these people came out to the cemetery, and I just kept hoping we could finish the tour,” Sullivan said. “I felt good, we got through most of the tour, and it always feels good if you can get the people to listen for an hour and a half even though you want more time than that. I hope I instilled enough love of the cemetery that a lot of those people will come back in the fall to finish the tour and see what they missed.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“Auburn was a place where in the last 10 years people have become more excited about their history,” Sullivan said. “There is a spirit of pride and a spirit of progress, and that's why people want to connect with the past to become a part of this history.”
When the tour started, the skies were clear, the sun was shinning, and the visitors stuck next to the large shady trees to shelter themselves from the heat as Sullivan discussed the impact of local legends such as William Seward, Harriet Tubman, Jerome Holland, Thomas Osbourne and
Theodore Pomeroy on local and national history.
Sullivan also debunked various myths and told tall tales about past legends.
One such myth was that the cemetery was located on the ruins of an old fort despite the lack of any archeological evidence to collaborate that claim. Some people have even speculated that the small gaps in the side of the hill used to be gates to enter the complex, but Sullivan said so many gates would have been a strategic disaster because they would have been the weak points in the wall's defense.
As for the tales, Sullivan believed it was important to mix the history and the legends together.
“They kind of make it more fun and entertaining,” Sullivan said. “I want this to be something fun that people choose to do because they think it's a great time, and at the same time they learn something about the area.”
But eventually the clear skies were replaced with gray clouds and lighting lit up the horizon. The crowd anxiously looked to the sky as the thunder got louder and closer with each crackle. At one point Sullivan gave the group a chance to head back to their cars, but only half of the nearly 35 people headed for the parking lot.
Those that remained listened and asked questions while Sullivan attempted to give a speed tour, cutting out some historical aspects of Silvester Willard and Theodore Case, among others.
The sudden down pour of rain mixed with the bolts of lighting flashing across the sky directly overhead sent the remaining visitors scrambling for their cars before Sullivan could completely share his 15 years of knowledge on local history.
But Sullivan believed that if his passion rubbed off onto the visitors, he could see some of them return for the final tour on Oct. 2.
“I was concerned that this might be the only time these people came out to the cemetery, and I just kept hoping we could finish the tour,” Sullivan said. “I felt good, we got through most of the tour, and it always feels good if you can get the people to listen for an hour and a half even though you want more time than that. I hope I instilled enough love of the cemetery that a lot of those people will come back in the fall to finish the tour and see what they missed.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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