Cemeteries.... how do you view them? What raw emotions do thoughts of them evoke? Uneasy aversion? Morbidity? Fear? One thing most of us will admit; cemeteries give rise to strong feelings in most of us, especially the young and even older folks still in a state of denial about the transient nature of our stay here on this orb we have come to mistake for home.

Now that I've said that, i'll say this... I no longer fear cemeteries: in fact, I haven't for quite a long spell. From my lofty perch overlooking Oliver Springs Cemetery one hill over the way, I can plainly see where many of our fathers and mothers loosed the harness of mortal yoke. (Well, I can't actually SEE it as I write this, as it is almost 2:30 in the morning) I often find occasion to walk over there and reflect, ponder, surmise.. maybe even shed a tear or two for someone I know only through legend. But I do know many of them.. in my mind's eye and looking through the window of my soul I have gotten to sense what they were like. Through reading letters, postcards, verbal accounts, perusing old photos, I believe I have gained a wee bit of insight into what made some of them tick. Existential thinking won't get you there.. you have to be willing to go slow... "the road less traveled" mindset.

All right, Robbie... what's with the solemn bit?? You feeling sick or something? And the answer is, not in the least. In truth, the more I learn about our ancestors around here, the more I am impressed by virtues they possessed that many of us know all too little about.

While we're on the delicate subject, allow me to take this opportunity to announce the first annual Oliver Springs Cemetery Tour, to be held on Saturday, May 28th. This is during the huge Memorial Day Festival in downtown Oliver Springs. And oh, what a festival it promises to be! The city blocks off Main Street, vendors come in with all kinds of great food and drink, music, games, enactors, crafts, and.. well, you get the idea. The Oliver Springs Historical Society will have our booth set up just diagonally across Main Street from City Hall. The tours will be booked at the hist. Society's booth, and the tours will embark from that spot on the hour. As it stands, tours will leave at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00. The tours will utilize a comfortable shuttle bus, and will be guided. At the cemetery, enactors will be in place to tell the life and times of various personalities of days gone by. Take Marshal Henry "Pony" Cash: gunned down in the middle of Main Street in 1904, Marshal Cash will tell his story. We have recruited some of the most talented actors to enact these characters. I can say one thing for sure: it promises to not only be compelling and dramatic, but will accord the special honor to these giants of history that they so rightfully deserve. How appropriate can it get.. this, the hundredth year of our town's founding..... I can't wait.. I can't wait.....

This is a good time to mention that we at the Oliver Springs Historical Society just LOOOOVVVE to hear from our friends scattered on the four winds. Drop me an email and let me know how you are and how you came to this site. Whether a love of Oliver Springs or just fondness for all things historical, I'd love to hear about it. Robbieu41@comcast.net is the straight shot to my desk and my attention.

More to come……

Robbie Underwood

Oh, by the way... if you're not currently a member of The Oliver Springs Historical Society, you're missing the chance to be a part of one of the most dynamic groups of its kind anywhere. Click on the Historic hotel for info on joining...

Coming to Oliver Springs? Be sure and stop by the Historic Depot. Inside you will find a splendid array of pictures, artifacts, displays, etc., from our proud past. Bringing a group? Let us know and we might be able to arrange for someone to guide you in your sightseeing.

contact robbieu41@comcast.net

More to come....

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