SOUTH RIVER–Striving to educate residents about two of the borough’s historic graveyards, the South River Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission will be the host to a free walking tour open to the public.
In a joint effort, the South River Historical and Preservation Society and the commission have teamed up to present a guided tour of the Old Baptist Church’s graveyard and the Washington Monumental Cemetery.
The tour will begin at 1:30 p.m. on April 7 at the South River Museum, which is located at 64-66 Main St.
“We have conducted walking tours for the past four years about South River history which have been well attended with positive feedback from the public,” said Brian Armstrong, former president of the South River Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission’s.
Armstrong will be the tour guide, as he has provided previous tours of the borough for the commission and the society.
Residents will tour the Old School Baptist Church’s cemetery behind the museum and learn about the surviving 53 graves dating from 1815-95.
“Most people who visit the museum have expressed interest in the cemetery and this walking tour provides an opportunity to show the restored gravestones and to discuss the history of the cemetery with the public,” Armstrong said. “The cemetery contains interesting graves of early residents of the borough including the Frazee Urn sculpted by John Frazee, a famous American sculpture, for his first wife. It also has the grave of at least one former slave, Judy Bodine, who is included on the Obert/Barkelew Monument.”
Armstrong said attendees will learn about the history of the Old School Baptist Church building, which is the oldest surviving building in the borough.
Attendees will also listen in on a discussion about the recent land scan of the graveyard and the influenza victim area in the Washington Monument Cemetery.
For more information, visit www.southrivernj.org/CAHC_main.html.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].