Doylestown Cemetery Tour Being Given Now

Despite the sweltering heat and humidity, about three dozen people turned out for a lunchtime walking tour of Doylestown Cemetery, part of this week's bicentennial celebrations.

There was much to learn after we split into four groups and were led around by guides in period costume; ours was dressed as a Civil War officer.

Among the varied tidbits doled out were that the cemetery has veterans from all United States wars from the War of 1812 onward, and that there are 206 Civil War veterans, including five brigadier generals, on the grounds.

There was also interesting trivia about the formation of the cemetery, including its origin as several adjacent, independent cemeteries, only unified after a state law forbidding cemeteries more than 15 acres was abolished—the site now is 33 acres.

We also learned the story of the bathrooms that were on site (one still remains up against the berm that holds back the land that supports the water tower).

People of note whose graves we visited include, but are not limited to:

• Louis H. Spellier, the father of the electric clock
• William Edgar Geil, noted world traveler
• Atlee Burpee and family, whose seed company prospers to this day
• Dr. George T. Harvey, namesake of Harvey Avenue
• And, of course, the Doyle family whose name the town bears

If you wish to take the tour and learn everything else, there's another noon lunchtime tour on May 31st, as well as 7 p.m. twilight tours on May 30th and June 1st.

Refreshments of funeral cakes, lemonade, and cold water are served afterward. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.