For the past three years, the Wright City Cemetery Memorial Society has used creativity and theatrics to remember notable figures from the past.

Eight volunteers donned costumes Oct. 7, each playing the role of someone from Wright City’s earlier years who are buried in the city’s cemetery. 

Event coordinator Marie Hollenbeck said it’s a way to bring recognition to those who were instrumental during their time and also lived in Warren County. 

“Our goal is for people to become aware that there are stories and lives behind the names and dates on stones in the cemetery,” said Hollenbeck.

While these weren’t necessarily celebrities, they were at least notable on a local level.

“These were people who had interesting lives with joys and trials,” said Hollenbeck. “Many of them contributed a great deal to our community, and we want that to be remembered.”

The group chose a small portion of the cemetery, where actors portrayed the character of the deceased and shared the narrative of their life story.

Among them were the Stonewall Kennedy family, some of the first to settle in Warren County. 

An accomplished editor, John Case, and well-known schoolteacher named Ellouise Hasekamp also were portrayed. Karen Girondo shared letters from her great-uncle, Harry Scheibe, who told graphic accounts from his experiences in the Philippines during World War II.

“This year we were in a portion of the cemetery that was a little bit newer,” said Hollenbeck. “Many of the people who we were portraying were remembered by the longtime residents.”

Each of the volunteers is responsible for learning about the person they are playing. The actors use that knowledge to try to make their performances unique to that character.

“We appreciate all of them because they spent a great deal of time researching and preparing scripts,” said Hollenbeck. “We are indebted to the volunteers who do that for us.”

A few dozen people attended the event, which Hollenbeck plans to continue into the future.

“I think telling stories is a good way to connect the past and put a face with the names,” said Hollenbeck.

Volunteers dressed up to portray notable Warren County citizens of the past during the annual Wright City Cemetery tour hosted by the Memorial Society. It was hel Oct. 7. Pictured are, from left, Virginia Wise as Madelaine Litto; Karen Girondo who read letters from Harry Scheibe; Rev. Glenn Davis as Stonewall Kennedy; Cathie Schoppenhorst as Elizabeth Waller Kennedy; Marie Hollenbeck as Minnie Moseley; Mildred Groeper as Lula Reed; State Sen. Brian Spencer as editor John Franklin Case and Jackie Nierman as Elloise Hasekamp. 

Cathie Schoppenhorst, left, portrays Elizabeth Waller Kennedy, while Rev. Glenn Davis portrays Stonewall Kennedy during the third annual Wright City Cemetery Walk hosted Oct. 7 by the Cemetery Memorial Society. 

Jackie Nierman portrays former Wright City teacher and administrator Elloise Hasekamp during the Memorial Society cemetery tour held Oct. 7. 

State Sen. Bryan Spencer portrays John Franklin Case, an editor who lived in Warren County during the first half of the 1900s, during the Wright City Cemetery tour Oct. 7. Spencer was one of eight actors on hand to honor the life of notable Warren County residents.