Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour brings history to life in Brackenridge

Self-described history buff Fran Jones can’t wait to dress up as long-deceased Tarentum townswoman Annie Walker and share her story during the annual Prospect Cemetery Ghost Tour.

“Actually, most of my story is really talking about her husband, (Dr. A.F.) ‘Daddy’ Walker, a most popular figure in local history,” Jones said.

Daddy Walker was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, an English teacher at Tarentum High School and the director of the public library.

Jones of Fawn will be one of more than a dozen “ghosts” who share stories during the event from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 13.

Small-group tours embark every 10 minutes. The cost is $10.

Registration is recommended.

Organized by historian Cindy Homburg, the event is a fundraiser for the cemetery — which is the final resting place of 13,000 people. Graves belong to Civil War soldiers, teachers, judges, socialites, legislators and other influential figures.

Homburg started the tour as a way to bring in money for property maintenance but found that she loves sharing local history with the crowds who attend.

“There is so much to learn,” she said.

Groups that meander through the cemetery will stop along the way to meet about 15 people portraying characters who played a part in shaping Brackenridge, Tarentum and Harrison.

The characters change each year with one exception.

“Everyone meets Judge Henry Marie Brackenridge,” Homburg said. “He is the first person you meet every year.”

The borough is named for the congressman, judge and author who lived there in the 1800s.

On tap this year are meet-and-greets with a Civil War soldier from a notable family in Natrona Heights, Homburg said.

“There will be the son of a very famous man that you studied about in school, the wife of a local photographer and a chief of police from Tarentum,” she said.

Jones, in her second year of participating, will don a wig, long black shawl and Victorian hat.

Last year, she portrayed Grace Appleby whose father, Charles, was a prolific businessman in Tarentum.

“When he died, all the stores closed for two hours to honor him,” Jones said.

The tours open up a line of dialogue, she said, “because there’s so much history that people don’t know about.”

Bob Dayton, pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum, looks forward to portraying outlandish figures that veer from his everyday personality.

“I’ve played a notorious killer and also a World War I soldier,” Dayton said.

This year, he plays the part of William Harbison, grandson of Massy Harbison who was famously captured by Native Americans in her cabin along the Allegheny River.

A tradition since 2010, the ghost tour keeps growing in popularity, Homburg said.

“There’s so much here, we’ll never run out of interesting information,” she said.

Tour guides carry lanterns, but participants are welcome to bring a flashlight.