History comes alive at the Homewood Cemetery Walk
On Sept. 28, the air will be bristling with history when costumed characters from the Prime Stage Theatre take to the Homewood Cemetery grounds to share the stories of prominent people who have gone on before. The walks will begin at noon with groups of 20 and continue through 3:40 p.m.
Pulling Back the Veil
Sueanne Zoratto, Prime Stage Theatre board member and chair of the event, comments on the sheer size of the 200-acre lawn cemetery, which dates to 1878 and is located in the Point Breeze neighborhood. “It currently contains approximately 78,000 people and is only one-third full,” Zoratto said.
The walk will be taking place in Section 14, which Zoratto describes as the ‘high-rent district.’ “That’s because it’s where the big names from the industrial years are buried,” said Zoratto, mentioning familiar family names like Mellon, Heinz, and Frick.
Big Names
Historian Jennie Benford and Zoratto offer a taste of what attendees will learn while taking the historical stroll.
“People may not recognize some of the names, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t influential in their day,” Zoratto said, making a point with Charles Arbuthnot, a wholesale dry goods merchant who arrived in the Pittsburgh area from Ireland in 1843. “He’s going to tell the story of the Great Fire of Pittsburgh, which took place on April 10, 1845,” said Zoratto, referring to the actor who will offer details about the event that deeply affected the region, destroying two-thirds of the city.
Benford goes on to provide more details to the Arbuthnot story. “He was an amateur musician in Pittsburgh and was wealthy enough to travel. One of his tricks was to ask observers to choose a card from a deck and he’d then command his dog Cricket to pick the correct card,” said Benford, who is likely to further pique people’s interest by describing a book that was in Arbuthnot’s possession. “He made a point to have it signed by many magicians over the years and it disappeared one day when he was attending a conference. About a year later, when he was attending a show featuring a psychic, he asked about it and was informed that it would be on its way to him that evening and it was,” Benford said.
Visitors will also learn about S.S. Marvin, who started the National Biscuit Company known as Nabisco. “His grave was once petitioned for removal, but it ended up staying and looks like a little Stonehenge,” said Zoratto.
Then there’s Elizabeth Pitcairn, who married wealthy and supported the Suffragette movement. “She was an amazing woman who also liked to drive and would loan her cars to the Equal Franchise Society (EFS) for its trips to Harrisburg to affect legislation,” said Benford.
Guests will also learn about Daniel Burnham during the walk. Burnham was known as the chief architect of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and an early influencer of the City Beautiful Movement. Burnham wasn’t a Pittsburgh native, but was chosen by one to create a monument for the Baum family, who were prominent landowners in the East Liberty neighborhood. “It turned out to be very distinctive and based on the Temple of the Winds. Underneath the roof is what looks like a book and that’s where the family names are carved,” said Benford.
These are just a few historical tidbits that will be revealed during the walk which benefits Pittsburgh’s Prime Stage Theatre.
Benford said that they’re looking forward to the event, which will take place rain or shine. “Last year we sold out, so those who are interested should purchase their tickets soon,” Benford said.
The Homewood Cemetery is located at 1599 S. Dallas Avenue, Pittsburgh. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.primestage.com/events.