Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery Historical Walk

Residents are invited to take an historical tour of the Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery October 11th as we prepare to honor the dead on All Hallows Eve – better known as Halloween.

Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery was established in 1864. It is the burial site of many of the pioneers of the City of Pontiac, as well as Civil War veterans and others looking to start a better life. Those taking the tour will meet local residents dressed in period clothing that will share interesting stories of several of those buried including: Stephen J. Cloonan, Pontiac’s constable for 44 years (Dwight Keith of Waterford); Eugene Thibideau, an architect from Canada (Richard Kollins of Pontiac); Eddie Fox, drummer in the Salvation Army Band, routinely played at the Eagle Theatre (Richard Thibideau of Pontiac); Dominic Fortino, confectioner and owner of several restaurants (Theresa Fortino of White Lake to play his wife); Flora Ardelan, Romanian native raised 10 children (Kathy Davis of Pontiac); Carmen Guizar, fled during the Mexican Revolution (Ricardo Palacio of Pontiac to play her husband); and Julia Murray Dean, one of the founders of the Pontiac Urban League (Patty Dean Phillips of Royal Oak). These stories, along with other historical facts, will give visitors a better sense of the life conditions of those living in Pontiac in the 1800’s.

This unique event is made possible by the planning and extensive research provided by Pontiac residents Nancy and Don Calendine and Gallery on the Boulevard/Murphy House Bed & Breakfast owners Pat and Rick David.

The late afternoon event begins with cider and donuts at the Murphy House Bed & Breakfast where visitors may take a tour of the restored historical home. A shuttle will take guests to the cemetery (on Orchard Lake Rd) for the guided tour, and then return them to the Gallery on The Boulevard (next to the Murphy House). A reservation fee of $15 will be collected. 100 % of the profits will be donated to Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery to support ongoing preservation and up keep.

Guests may reserve space during one of three tours, each lasting approximately one hour.

Saturday, October 11

2:30 – 7:00 pm

Tour times: 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm

Begin at: Murphy House Bed & Breakfast

28 Franklin Boulevard

Pontiac

Plenty of Free Parking

Reservations are $15

Space is limited

Call: Nancy Calendine 248.418.2460

Email: cementerywalk1@yahoo.com

flowerchild2007@yahoo.com

Visit: www.historicseminolehills.com