Merrill Historical Society is once again hosting a cemetery tour during October. The 2016 tour focuses on seven women who supported their families either by the work they did or the businesses they ran.
When it was decided to feature women, it was also decided to sponsor an essay contest to give interested people a chance to tell the stories of women who were important in their lives. The essay contest was a very good thing because finding information on women using the usual sources of books and newspaper articles doesn’t work very well. The stories of women aren’t found in the paper except for their obituaries. The stories of women live on in the letters they leave behind and in the memories their families and friends share.
The lives of the women featured in this year’s walk span 150 years. Mabel Downie Wittman, Etta Noel Akey, Josephine Poirier, Jane Bierman, Bertha and Lillian Fleischfresser, and Evelyn Broecker all played a part in the history of our community. The Society is very fortunate that three of the people who entered the essay contest will be joining the tour on Oct. 22 and 23 as experts on their women.
Dates and times for the tour:
•Saturday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for the hour and a half long walk are $10 per person and are available at the cemetery at the start of each tour. The tours will happen rain or shine. Those taking the tour are asked to park near the Merrill Memorial Park sign and flagpole along Memorial Drive. Please bring a flashlight for the 6 p.m. tours. All proceeds from this fundraising activity go to support projects of the Merrill Historical Society.
The Merrill Historical Society’s mission is to educate the public about our heritage using the unique historical and cultural resources we collect and preserve. For further information on the programs and activities of the Merrill Historical Society, or to become a member, please contact the Society at 715-536-5652 or [email protected], or see the website at www.merrillhistory.org.