Almost 500 gather in Fort Smith to see dead people
by April 26, 2010 7:32 am 70 views
story and photos by Ruby Dean
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Unlike the HBO horror anthology “Tales of the Crypt,” the Oak Cemetery Commission’s Tales of the Crypt is a tribute to Fort Smith’s history makers. Ten of the more than 13,000 interred at the cemetery are portrayed through the re-enactments of actors dressed in period costume.
The Oak Cemetery Commission and the Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Department hosted the event.
During the free walking tour, Fort Smith’s history came to life at the annual Tales of the Crypt event. There were two guided tours at Oak Cemetery, 3 and 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and approximately 475 people came to attend this year’s event.
Tales of the Crypt began in 1998 and each the re-enactments of the individuals portrayed change. History makers portrayed this year included:
• Ralph Howard, a police officer killed in a 1931 shootout;
• James Richardson, a U.S. Deputy Marshal killed in the line of duty;
• Sarah Jane Parke, a Confederate spy;
• George Winston, a U.S. Court bailiff and former slave;
• Alfred Reynolds, personal bodyguard of Gen. Benjamin Bonneville;
• August Krone, a Fort Smith businessman;
• Robert Kuhn, a firefighter killed in the line of duty in 1916;
• Nancy Wheeler, sister of E.C. Bouidnot Sr. and Stand Watie, wife of the editor of Fort Smith’s first newspaper.
For those who missed the event, DVDs will be made available to buy for $10.
