NEW BRITAIN — -
Sometime after the sun goes down Friday, Sarah Lankton will lead visitors on a slightly spooky walking tour to meet a survivor of the Titanic's sinking, P.T. Barnum's publicist and the remarkable Frederick T. Stanley, New Britain's first mayor and founder of The Stanley Works.
Not to worry — she'll carry a lantern so nobody trips over the tombstones.
A mix of Halloween and history, "Timeless Tales of Fairview Cemetery" features actors portraying several of the most famous people laid to rest in New Britain's historic burying ground, including a Civil War soldier and a World War II prisoner of war. Even the guide has a story: Lankton died in 1756, and was the first person buried at Fairview.
"This event is not necessarily the haunted hayrides or tours that people see during the time around Halloween," Mayor Timothy Stewart said. "It will be a chance for families to spend time together, do something new and creative, and learn about some legendary New Britain figures."
The tour will stop at five grave sites to hear the stories of the people buried there. Period costumes and props will set the theme at each one; William Thompson Sloper, for instance, will speak from inside a small lifeboat.
"I'll be in a boat, wearing a camel overcoat and a tuxedo," said Gene Coppa, who takes on the role of Sloper, a survivor of the Titanic's sinking in 1912. Sloper spent the rest of his life defending himself against the unfounded accusation that he had disguised himself as a woman to get onto the lifeboat. The son of a New Britain bank president, Sloper was buried at Fairview in 1955.
Coppa has been studying details of Sloper's life and is eager to portray him for tour groups.
"I'm interested in ghosts and near-death experiences, and I love this part," said Coppa, a Farmington antiques dealer. "If it's cold out there, well — I'm supposed to be cold. I'm in a lifeboat."
Other portrayers will take the roles of Lankton; Dexter Fellows, publicist for P.T. Barnum's circus; Waldo Benden Pierce, a prisoner of war during World War II; and Lucius Deming, a Civil War soldier. Former Mayor William McNamara will play the part of Stanley, founder of the small manufacturing business that eventually became New Britain's largest employer.
Bill DeMaio, head of the parks and recreation department, envisions the tour as education and entertainment with a dash of Halloween spirit. Perhaps borrowing Fellows' flair for promotion, DeMaio describes the tour as "brave souls ... listening to the fateful takes of select spirits as they appear from beyond and beneath."
The city's veterans commission, the cemetery commission and DeMaio's department did the planning, and DeMaio credits Amy Kirby of Central Connecticut State University for the historical research.
Several 45-minute tours will go through Fairview on Friday and Saturday evening starting at 6:30 p.m., and will end with hot chocolate, cider, coffee and popcorn. Space is limited, though, because DeMaio is keeping each group to 15 people at most. Advance reservations are required; $5 tickets can be reserved at city hall or at http://www.new-britain.net/liv_prknrecTimeless.html. Proceeds will go to the restoration of Fairview's Erwin Chapel.
The cemetery tour is based on similar programs in Philadelphia and Newport, R.I., DeMaio said, and could become a tradition for New Britain if the turnout is good this weekend.
Not to worry — she'll carry a lantern so nobody trips over the tombstones.
A mix of Halloween and history, "Timeless Tales of Fairview Cemetery" features actors portraying several of the most famous people laid to rest in New Britain's historic burying ground, including a Civil War soldier and a World War II prisoner of war. Even the guide has a story: Lankton died in 1756, and was the first person buried at Fairview.
"This event is not necessarily the haunted hayrides or tours that people see during the time around Halloween," Mayor Timothy Stewart said. "It will be a chance for families to spend time together, do something new and creative, and learn about some legendary New Britain figures."
The tour will stop at five grave sites to hear the stories of the people buried there. Period costumes and props will set the theme at each one; William Thompson Sloper, for instance, will speak from inside a small lifeboat.
"I'll be in a boat, wearing a camel overcoat and a tuxedo," said Gene Coppa, who takes on the role of Sloper, a survivor of the Titanic's sinking in 1912. Sloper spent the rest of his life defending himself against the unfounded accusation that he had disguised himself as a woman to get onto the lifeboat. The son of a New Britain bank president, Sloper was buried at Fairview in 1955.
Coppa has been studying details of Sloper's life and is eager to portray him for tour groups.
"I'm interested in ghosts and near-death experiences, and I love this part," said Coppa, a Farmington antiques dealer. "If it's cold out there, well — I'm supposed to be cold. I'm in a lifeboat."
Other portrayers will take the roles of Lankton; Dexter Fellows, publicist for P.T. Barnum's circus; Waldo Benden Pierce, a prisoner of war during World War II; and Lucius Deming, a Civil War soldier. Former Mayor William McNamara will play the part of Stanley, founder of the small manufacturing business that eventually became New Britain's largest employer.
Bill DeMaio, head of the parks and recreation department, envisions the tour as education and entertainment with a dash of Halloween spirit. Perhaps borrowing Fellows' flair for promotion, DeMaio describes the tour as "brave souls ... listening to the fateful takes of select spirits as they appear from beyond and beneath."
The city's veterans commission, the cemetery commission and DeMaio's department did the planning, and DeMaio credits Amy Kirby of Central Connecticut State University for the historical research.
Several 45-minute tours will go through Fairview on Friday and Saturday evening starting at 6:30 p.m., and will end with hot chocolate, cider, coffee and popcorn. Space is limited, though, because DeMaio is keeping each group to 15 people at most. Advance reservations are required; $5 tickets can be reserved at city hall or at http://www.new-britain.net/liv_prknrecTimeless.html. Proceeds will go to the restoration of Fairview's Erwin Chapel.
The cemetery tour is based on similar programs in Philadelphia and Newport, R.I., DeMaio said, and could become a tradition for New Britain if the turnout is good this weekend.
Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford has been doing the same type of Haunted Lantern Tour since 2004.
rmbolin (10/14/2009, 7:35 PM )