The sun was shining, and fall was in the air as scores of Downers Grove residents came to experience the “Living Cemetery” event on October 21. They experienced a community event that was not only lively and fun but educational as well. Sixteen youths from Marilyn Ludwig’s Paper Moon Players troupe, along with several local citizens, each portrayed one of the folks buried at the Main Street Cemetery, except for town founder Pierce Downer and his wife, Lucy. The actors portraying them explained why Pierce and Lucy were not buried in the cemetery.
All the actors were in full costume and were well versed in their roles. Some comments from the crowd included, “Wow! This is the best event ever!” “These kids are amazing! I love this!” “This event really brings the community together. I hope you do it every year.” “I always wondered about the graves here. This event is wonderful on so many levels.” “What a fantastic experience for our community.” The Downers Grove Historical Society, which organizes the annual event, extends many thanks to the volunteers and everyone who attended this educational, community-building, family friendly event. If you missed it this year, you won’t want to miss it next year. Mark your calendars now for October 19, 2024 – 10 a.m. til noon.
