Geneseo’s Temple Hill Cemetery welcomes its 13th annual Spirit Walk

Temple Hill Cemetery’s 13th Spirit Walk trades lantern light for late afternoon

Photo Courtesy of Alwin Johnson- Pexels

Temple Hill Cemetery’s 13th annual Spirit Walk, which has been named “Carved in Stone: Explore the Spirits, Symbols & Stories of Temple Hill,” as per the Temple Hill website,  is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This is an hour and a half earlier start time from previous years. As stated in The Daily News, “this new time allows visitors to enjoy the grounds before dusk.” The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 27, according to Temple Hill Cemetery’s flier on the VisitGeneseo website.

The earlier hour suits the theme in many ways. Rather than building the evening around a single slice of local history—as past walks have done with many notable women, Civil War soldiers, World War II veterans, and downtown tradespeople—this year’s tour pairs biography with the funerary art carved above each grave. 

Culturally, events like this are not only important to fundraising for the cemetery, but also for the heart and soul of the community. As quoted by The Smithsonian, “Cultural heritage helps define our distinct national and ethnic identities. It brings us together when used as a diplomatic tool to promote peace and conflict resolution. When it is preserved and celebrated, it can foster diversity and respect.” This is echoed in sentiments by the event’s coordinators: “Cemeteries are not just places of loss—they are living museums of history,” event organizers wrote on the Temple Hill Cemetery website announcing the walk. Organizers added that they “want people to leave with the eyes to read the stories carved in stone wherever they travel.”

This year, performers in period-accurate Victorian dress will introduce the families whose plots anchor the route which adds to the central theme of this year’s Spirit Walk. As stated on the event’s page, “This year’s theme bridges the gap between art and biography, combining the intricate iconography of Victorian-era headstones with the fascinating lives of the departed.”

Alongside these performers are many stories of families from the area of Geneseo.  Among them, as documented by Temple Hill Cemetery, are: the Honeywells, whose patriarch served 44 years as Temple Hill’s superintendent; the Sinclairs, remembered for farming, their contributions to literature and science, and the white bronze monument marking their plot; and the founder of nearby Piffard, whose family plot carries elaborate ornamentation.

Organizers stress that the event is historical in nature, and not intended to be scary for event-goers. According to The Daily News, event organizers “have long encouraged families to attend and learn about historical connections to Geneseo of both famous and common folk.”

The walk had originally started its life as a Girl Scout project. Mallory Crane, who is a Geneseo native, organized the first cemetery walk in the fall of 2013 as part of her Gold Award, a larger undertaking she called the “Four Seasons of Temple Hill Cemetery,” according to last year’s article by The Genesee Pennysaver. The article noted that “Since then, it has become a much-anticipated fall tradition, drawing families, students, and history enthusiasts from across the region.” 

With this walk also comes the discussion of etiquette as it applies to cemeteries. According to Cemetery Etiquette for Spooky Season, a New York State Parks blog, it is ill advised to touch gravestones such as the ones you may see on the tour. The article states, “17th through early 19th century stones are thin, and often contain cracks or fissures you may not see,” which means that while touring the grounds viewers  should be careful, because “While the stone may appear solid, applying pressure has broken many early stones.” The article also encouraged people to take  photos instead of touching the stones, which The Spirit Walk will provide many opportunities for.

Admission to this event is free to all, however a donation of 5 dollars per person or 20 dollars per family is suggested by Temple Hill. All of the proceeds go to support preservation at the cemetery, whose founding dates back to 1807, as noted on the “About Us” tab of the cemetery’s website. Alongside this suggested donation is advice to wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain is uneven. 

While the Spirit Walk may have held origins as a small part in a project 13 years ago, its long lasting legacy proves that as the years go by it is important to keep the past alive.