It was a Not-Quite Dark and Stormy Night…
November 30, 2009It was a dark and stormy Friday the 13th and the Thurber House Young Docents were creeping around graves in hopes of luring out James Thurber’s ghost. Ok, so it was actually a gorgeous, sunny and almost 70 degree Friday the 13th and the docents were actually on a field trip to Greenlawn Cemetery to visit James Thurber’s gravesite, but that doesn’t sound as ominous.
As we raced against the setting sun, the docents and their families toured around famous graves and antique mausoleums, some dating back to the late 1800s! Cemetery volunteer, Sandy Latimer, was kind enough to stay till dark and give our Thurber loving group a tour and some very interesting behind the scenes information and gossip!
Of course the night wasn’t complete until we visited James Thurber’s grave. Eerily we were not alone…We looked down to discover his grave stone was covered in pennies. Who left all the pennies? And what was the significance? As the night grew darker, Sandy quickly explained that visitors often leave mementos on graves they visit. Who do you think left behind their piggy bank remnants on Thurber’s grave?
We ended the night back at Thurber House for cookies and hot chocolate but sadly, no ghosts joined us. Perhaps the magic day is November 17th, the night the ghost got in?!
For more information about our Young Docent program, please contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
