the train depot. Since it was a mass grave, the soldiers were not buried individually. There are 75 marked graves of Confederate soldiers in the cemetery of those who died well after the war, including Confederate General James Henry Lane and AU President William Leroy Broun, who was the Commandant of the Confederate Arsenal at Richmond. Radar was also used at the north end of the cemetery to locate unmarked slave graves. Only one of the graves was marked, which now represents all of those buried in that area. Gatsy Rice was born a slave. Once she was freed, she became a seamstress and made uniforms the college men were required to wear. She also ran a boarding house in downtown Auburn. Gatsy was known for her sewing and cooking. After her death, a white man who admired her erected a marker on her grave. Throughout the cemetery volunteers relate many interesting and touching stories of the lives of those who settled and led Auburn. In 1972, AHA began to preserve Pebble Hill, restore Ebenezer Baptist Church and moved the Nunn Winston House to Keisel Park. The association was incorporated in 1974 by Alice Cary Pick. The Pine Hill Cemetery Lantern Tours were first held in 1996, with 400 attending the first year. An AHA member, the late Ann Pearson, had attended a cemetery tour in Savannah, Ga. Pearson was impressed with the tour and felt a similar tour would be educational at Pine Hill. The history of Auburn is revealed in those buried at the historic site. “The history is not found in schools or anywhere,” says Mary. Pine Hill is of interest to her as she has 100 relatives buried there going back to her fourth great-grandfather. Her grandparents and parents are also buried in the cemetery. AHA has collected costumes from coats to top hats for volunteers who depict historic characters. Sometimes family descendants portray their ancestors. Over the years, the tours have featured 60 characters. Some remain every year, while two new ones are generally added each year. “Local volunteers will portray characters and give a brief biography of those buried at Pine Hill, a catechism of Auburn’s persona,” Mary says. “Some of the characters returning will include Virginia Howe, the 16-yearold who was buried in her front yard and later moved to Pine Hill. Another character, ‘Uncle Billy,’ is buried above ground in his double bed with his shoes under the bed. The tour is a wonderful way to ‘experience’ local history and discover the true characters and founders of Auburn.” Boy Scouts light the 1,500 candles used in the luminaries for both nights. The tour proceeds go toward various projects of the AHA to promote the history of Auburn and its preservation. The association has spent $70,000 on clean up and restoration at the cemetery. The AHA published a book, “Auburn, Sweet Auburn, History, Stories and Epitaphs of Pine Hill Cemetery, 1836-2010.” The book is based on scripts from the 20 years the Lantern Tour has been conducted, as well as the numeration of 1600 graves in the cemetery. The book will be available for purchase at the gates. AHA t-shirts highlighting the tour will also be available. Tickets are $15 and $7 for students at the door, which includes the tour program. Parking is available at East Samford School on Samford Avenue, and you can take the buses to the cemetery. Children are welcome. The community is invited to join the AHA in celebrating Auburn’s history and be entertained at the same time. For further information, check the Auburn Heritage Association on Facebook or their website at www.auburnheritageassoc.org where the Pine Hill book can be ordered. 46 EAST ALABAMA LIVING
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