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With a full moon and candles glowing<br />
along a luminary lined path,<br />
come meet one of Auburn’s most notorious<br />
characters and founders of the town<br />
in a virtual “walk through history” at the<br />
Auburn Heritage Association’s Pine Hill<br />
Cemetery Lantern Tour Oct. 19 and 20 from<br />
6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Escorts with lanterns<br />
lead visitors from one historical character<br />
in period dress to another, as each one<br />
spins an enchanting story of life in a growing<br />
community.<br />
The history of Auburn and the university<br />
are intertwined at the historic cemetery<br />
where five Auburn University presidents<br />
are buried and many of the town’s community<br />
leaders. Some have streets named<br />
in their honor. To enhance the memorable<br />
experience, a bluegrass band will entertain<br />
at the cemetery’s entrance.<br />
“The tour is one of the best ways to<br />
learn about local history,” says Mary<br />
Norman, president of the Auburn Heritage<br />
Association (AHA). “Historical Auburn<br />
characters buried in the oldest cemetery<br />
in Auburn will be featured. The six acres<br />
of land for Pine Hill Cemetery is located on<br />
Armstrong Street and was donated by the<br />
city’s founder, Judge John J. Harper in 1837.<br />
“Ironically, it was his first son, Thomas<br />
Harper, who was buried there in 1838.<br />
Judge Harper will be back on the tour along<br />
with new characters, Drs. Olive and Ben<br />
Thomas Sr. and Mary Elizabeth and Matilda<br />
Walker.”<br />
Along with Judge Harper, other members<br />
of the settlement party who came<br />
here in 1836 are buried there, including the<br />
Wynns, Scotts, Perrys, Dowdells, Eadys and<br />
Flanagans.<br />
While cemetery records and plot maps<br />
are kept at City Parks and Recreation, a<br />
complete list of marked graves was not<br />
compiled until 1952. By the time of the<br />
survey, many older graves were no longer<br />
marked, and some were never identified.<br />
In 2010, AHA conducted ground penetrating<br />
radar on the mass grave in front<br />
of the Confederate Monument to locate 98<br />
unknown soldiers where it was suspected<br />
they were hospitalized at the Old Main,<br />
the college’s main building where Samford<br />
Hall now stands.<br />
The survey revealed a mass grave<br />
believed to be Confederate soldiers who<br />
probably died in the Battle of Atlanta and<br />
were taken to Pine Hill, as they came from<br />
EAST ALABAMA LIVING 45
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