On Sept. 29, come to Oak Ridge Cemetery for the Sangamon County Historical Society's annual cemetery walk. Hear about seven Springfield citizens who now rest in Oak Ridge's beautiful grounds. Meet a blind woman, Springfield's first rabbi, a Black civil rights activist, our State Capitol's architect, a woman business entrepreneur, a swindler and a singer.
This year the walk will focus on the area of Oak Ridge that includes the Hebrew Grounds and the African American section that are located next to each other.
Actors in period costume will present the stories of the seven individuals.
Susan Moore, a refugee who arrived from Arkansas in 1864 after the Civil War, lived the rest of her life at the Home for the Friendless, one of Springfield's first charitable institutions for orphans. Blind, yet skilled in knitting, Moore took care of the children and daily upkeep of the house. Moore will be portrayed by Erica Smith, who will share details of the home that was founded in 1863 and served Springfield for 65 years. Over that period, almost 7,000 children were housed there. Moore is buried near 200 children who lived at the home.
Close by is the Hebrew Ground of Oak Ridge, an area that is the resting place for 342 Jewish citizens of Springfield. A plaque commemorating the area was erected in 2023, made possible through a grant from the Sangamon County Historical Society.
Pauline Deutsch Redlich, portrayed by Sherry Flynn, will share the story of her parents, Bernhard and Rebekah Deutsch. In 1866 the Deutsch family emigrated from Bohemia, and Bernhard became Springfield's first rabbi. Flynn will explain the history of the Jewish community in Springfield, the origin and later changes of Temple B'rith Sholom, and will introduce many prominent Jewish citizens buried in the Hebrew Ground.
John J. Bird's tombstone is the only one in Oak Ridge inscribed with the words, "erected by the 47th General Assembly of Illinois." Bird was a Black civil rights activist, who gave many speeches and led rallies for the Republican Party, ran for office, and operated a newspaper, plus much more. He will be portrayed by Bob Davis. Bird became the first African American appointed as a trustee to the University of Illinois board in 1874.
Alfred Piquenard got in a bit of trouble in 1852 when he was visiting in his native France. He criticized King Louis Napoleon and was jailed, but was bailed out by his father and returned to the U.S. The roundabout story, leading to Piquenard eventually settling in Springfield, will be shared by Andy Vandevoort. We have Piquenard to thank for the Illinois State Capitol.
Bressmer's Department Store will be familiar to many who have lived in Springfield, as it once welcomed shoppers to its store at Sixth and Adams streets. Emma Bressmer, portrayed by Mary Dissler, will tell the story of her family's business. In 1925, after a series of mishaps, Emma, along with her sister and sister-in-law, ran the business, unprecedented for the time period. There were even five women on the board of directors.
Reed "Kid" Waddell was a bad kid and a bad man wherever he lived – Springfield, Carlinville, New York City, even Paris, France. Portrayer Pat Foster will share Waddell's swindling lifestyle and his con artist skills. Waddell often hung out on Commercial Alley, that ran from Fifth to Sixth Streets between Monroe and Adams. It was also known as Gamblers' Alley because of the many saloons and gambling dens along it.
Ellen Huntington Henkle was a soprano, known as Springfield's best singer from 1870-1900. She sang at Springfield's Opera House, in a quartet at both the dedication of the Lincoln Tomb and Mary Todd Lincoln's funeral, plus hundreds more events. She and her sisters were charter members of Springfield's Daughters of the American Revolution. Linda Schneider will sing a few lines as she tells Henkle's story, including a claim that her East Coast Huntington roots go back to the "real" first president of the United States.
Echoes of Yesteryear is a popular event that draws many to come hear the stories of those who led interesting lives and paved the way for others.
Logistics
The cemetery walk is Sunday, Sept. 29, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave., 12-3:30 p.m., with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. Follow signs for parking, board a bus that will take you to the start of the walk visiting the seven gravesites, and then board the bus to return to the parking area. The walk is approximately one-half mile. Free, donations accepted.
Cinda Ackerman Klickna, president of the Sangamon County Historical Society, loves learning about the history of our area.
