Morbid Curiosities: Theme of This Year’s Linwood Cemetery Ramble

The 17th Annual Historic Linwood Foundation Fall Ramble is an annual event you do not want to miss. Join us on Thursday, October 24, for a sunset tour through Historic Linwood Cemetery, with guides presenting stories of the lives and deaths of some Linwood “residents.” Following the tours, guests are invited to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Old Section of the cemetery.

The theme of this year’s ramble is “Morbid Curiosities” – featuring deaths by unnatural causes. Our guides will lead you down Linwood’s grassy paths, stopping to reminisce and memorialize the unfortunate demise of some of the interred. The causes of death to be mentioned include 19 as malaria and scarlet fever; childhood maladies like teething; accidents, including snake bite, rabies, auto wrecks, train accidents, fires and falls; as well as murder and suicide.

Tours will start every 15 minutes beginning at 5:00 p.m., and will continue till approximately 6:30p.m. or until all guests have taken the tour. Our visitors with special needs are asked to come to the 5:00 p.m. tour when golf carts will be available to ferry you around the cemetery. Following the tours, we’ll offer you a bounty of delicious hors d’oeuvres (prepared by local caterer Jodi Ressmeyer), along with a well-stocked bar.

Advance tickets are $25.00 for Historic Linwood Foundation members and $30.00 for non-members. Day-of-event tickets are $30.00 for members and $35.00 for non-members. Student tickets (under 21) are $12.00. Please enter through the gates at the chapel on Linwood Boulevard. Parking will be inside the cemetery. Gates open at 4:15 p.m.; police officers will provide parking directions.

Tickets are available at the Historic Linwood Foundation Office on the grounds of Linwood Cemetery. For more information, please call our office at 706-321-8285 Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

For more information, check us out on Facebook (Historic Linwood Cemetery Foundation).

Interested in local history?  Art?  Spending time outdoors?  Then come to Historic Linwood Cemetery on the third Saturday of the month at 9:30am for the THIRD SATURDAY TOUR.  The tour will start at the Lummus Chapel, located at the east end of the cemetery, and will highlight the stories of some of the people buried in Linwood, the history of Columbus, the beautiful stone and iron work, interesting epitaphs and more.  The walking tour will last about an hour.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water (and snack, if you like). THIRD SATURDAY TOURS are offered at no charge by the Historic Linwood Foundation, Inc., and are open to the public (donations accepted).   No reservation is necessary.  Call 706-321-8285 for more information.

The 16th Annual Historic Linwood Foundation Fall Ramble is an annual event you do not want to miss.Join us on a sunset tour through the
cemetery with presenters speaking about various people buried in Linwood Cemetery. It is followed by a cocktail party on the grounds.
Tours will start every 15 minutes starting at 5:30, and will continue to approximatley 6:30 or until all guests have had the tour.

Our visitors with special needs are asked to come to the 5:30 tour when golf carts will be availble to ferry you around the cemetery.
The theme this year is “Culinary Columbus” featuring some of the people who influenced how Columbus and the world dines and snacks.

Advance tickets are $25.00 for Historic Linwood Foundation members and $30.00 for non-members.
Day of event tickets are $30.00 for members and $35.00 for non-members.
Students tickets (under 21) are $12.00.

Please enter throught the gates at the chapel on Linwood Boulevard.
Tickets are available at the Historic Linwood Foundation Office on the grounds of Linwood Cemetery. For more information, please call our
office at 706-321-8285 Monday thru Friday 9:00 to 3:00 eastern time

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Historic Linwood Foundation continues to fulfill its mission. We have been in existence since 1997, and we are going strong. Our membership is on the increase, and restoration and preservation efforts continue. If you are not familiar with the Historic Linwood Foundation and what we do in Linwood Cemetery, our mission statement is as follows:

“To preserve and maintain Linwood Cemetery as an historic and cultural site of importance to the City of Columbus and its citizens, to assist the City of Columbus in restoring, preserving, improving, maintaining and managing Linwood Cemetery, and to educate the public with respect to the cultural and historic values of Linwood Cemetery, and for other educational and charitable purposes.”

Each year, the staff and volunteers give tours to student groups and individuals interested in the history of Columbus and we are proud to point out the craftsmanship and beauty of the markers and monuments that grace our cemetery.

The Foundation works closely with the city to maintain the grounds of this Historical site. Their help is invaluable in keeping the grounds of the cemetery in pristine condition. Our visitors are especially aware of the work and compliment the upkeep on a regular basis.

The Ramble this year will be on Thursday, October 18^th, and the theme is “Culinary Columbus”. We will be exploring the people who brought such foods as ice cream, peanuts and so much more to the Columbus are. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend.

If you would like to join our membership, please download the membership form and mail it today. If we don’t preserve the beauty that is Historic Linwood Cemetery, who will? Please contact the office at 706-321-8285 if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

Jane Brady, Executive Director

Historic Linwood Foundation has successfully continued to fulfill it’s mission for 14 years!!! Our mission statement is as follows:

To preserve and maintain Linwood Cemetery as an historic and cultural site of importance to the City of Columbus and its citizens, to assist the City of Columbus in restoring, preserving, improving, maintaining and managing Linwood Cemetery, and to educate the public with respect to the cultural and historic values of Linwood Cemetery, and for other educational and charitable purposes.

I know we are meeting all of the above criteria. In the past year, restoration encompassed at least 20 lots to include both brick restoration and monument conservation. Our office staff and faithful docents toured approximately 400 students through the cemetery in late October of 2010. We continue to provide commmunity service hours for students from several different schools in the area. With the help of some of these students and volunteers we have also been able to clean some of the stones in the cemetery which better able visitors who are researching their genealogy to read the information they are seeking.  Our Annual Fall Ramble grows larger in attendance with each year that passes. We had 324 in attendance this past October.

The Foundation continues to work closely with the city to maintain the grounds of this Historical site. Their help here is of utmost importance as they remove debris from worksites, blow the area around our office and the Lummus Chapel and generally keep up the cemetery. Our visitors are especially aware of the work and compliment the upkeep on a regular basis.

In summary, I am proud to report to our readers that the mission of the Foundation is still the number one priority. If you have questions or would like to join our membership, please contact the office at 706-321-8285.

Deby Payne, Executive Director

SAVE THIS DATE !!!! 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2010

The 14th ANNUAL FALL RAMBLE hosted by Historic Linwood Foundation is right around the corner. The HLF Board members and staff have been working diligently for this upcoming event presenting “A Tribute to Etta Blanchard Worsley and Columbus on the Chattahoochee”.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on October 14th, our guests are treated to an evening stroll through Linwood Cemetery. During your tour you will stop at several gravesites and hear the stories of “Linwood Residents”. Golf  carts are provided for the 5:30 tour for those who may want to ride versus walk. Golf carts are also available throughout the rest of the evening and tours leave approximately 15 apart with the last tour leaving at 6:45 pm.

After you ramble through the cemetery, you are invited to join us for BBQ and Beverages. This event is talked about throughout the year. It is a wonderful way to learn about the History of Columbus while visiting with friends and meeting new people who share an interest and passion for History. This event only gets better with every year!!!

Advanced ticket prices for the Fall Ramble are $15.00 for members and $20.00 for non-members. On the day of the event the price is $20.00 for members and $25.00 for non-members. Tickets go on sale September 1st, and people are just dying to get them, so don’t wait until the last minute.

Please feel free to call the Linwood office for information at (706)321-8285. I look forward to seeing you at this years Ramble. What a great way to spend an October evening!!

See you in the cemetery …

Deby Payne, Executive Director

Historic Linwood Foundation along with the City of Columbus will be hosting the 2010 GMCA Conference September 9th and 10th.  The title of the conference is “Genealogy Etched in Stone”.

The first day will consist of a tour in Historic Linwood Cemetery with lunch to follow. After lunch we have scheduled local speakers and some GMCA members to speak on the subject of Genealogy. The second day of the conference will begin at Riverdale Cemetery with breakfast and then we move to Porterdale Cemetery for a “Ground Penetration” presentation. The group will then tour the Springer Opera House with lunch to follow. Anyone interested is encouraged to register. Please contact the Sexton’s office at 706-653-4579 for registration information.

Did you know that William H. Young, one of Columbus’ earliest industrialists is buried in Linwood? Mr. Young was born in New York and came to Columbus when he was 17 years old. He became one of the most successful business pioneers in Columbus. He was the city’s first successful textile entrepreneur. He worked several businesses until in 1851 he established the Eagle Manufacturing Company, realizing that Columbus was going to be a textile-manufacturing site because of its water power.
His mill created an effective hydro-system building wooden dams, and later a rock dam which spanned the entire river. The mill produced a wide variety of products that were bought by country stores. In 1860 the Eagle Mill absorbed the Howard Factory, which made it the second largest mill in Georgia.
Mr. Young was president of the Bank of Columbus, and was responsible for the Georgia Home Insurance COmpany which built the cast iron building on Broad Street. Materials were shipped from England to build it. The building was erected after the Civil War and later became the First National Bank. During the Civil War the Eagle Mill contributed to the Confederacy. Young ran the mill twenty-four hours a day and sold the goods at half price to the Confederacy and people in Columbus. They bought War bonds, contributed to the poor, and built the city’s first free school. Wilson’s raid on Columbus in on Easter Sunday in 1865 burned the mill. Although wartime depleted the funding of many companies, after the war Young re-organized the manufacturing business and called it the Eagle and Phenix Manufacturing Company. He traveled to England to acquire the most sophisticated equipment. By 1883 they were the largest mill in the south and had about 2,000 employees. William Young maintained a positive relationship with workers, had marketing skills and hired capable men to help him. (To learn more about Columbus Industrialists, contact the office for a tour .. 706-321-8285).
Thanks,
Deby Payne

You are invited to the Lummus Chapel for a Lunch and Lecture on Thursday, October 1st, at 12:00 noon. The Historic Linwood Foundation, along with the Historic Columbus Foundation, will host this special “Lunch and Lecture”. Our guest speaker is Mary Jane Galer, co-author of “Historic Linwood Cemetery”.

Mary Jane has been volunteering for Historic Linwood since the foundation began in 1997. Before her work with the foundation, Mary Jane was a Professional Librarian for 47 years. She also pursued a political career for many years to include being the first woman in Columbus to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Mary Jane was the ninth woman to enter the 180 member House of Representatives and served six terms.

Mrs. Galer’s most recent work with the Foundation has been researching the early stone carvers who came to Columbus. She has implemented a “Stone Carvers Tour”, which she will be speaking about at the upcoming lunch and lecture. The information she will share with us on October 1st will serve as a prelude to the annual Fall Ramble that we have entitled “A Monumental Task”.

We would like to thank Historic Columbus for hosting the luncheon at the Lummus Chapel. They will provide drinks and dessert. Please contact Historic Columbus to RSVP at 706-322-0756. Parking for the event will be at chapel.

You are invited to the Lummus Chapel for a Lunch and Lecture on Thursday, October 1st, at 12:00 noon. The Historic Linwood Foundation, along with the Historic Columbus Foundation, will host this special “Lunch and Lecture”. Our guest speaker is Mary Jane Galer, co-author of “Historic Linwood Cemetery”.


Mary Jane has been volunteering for Historic Linwood since the foundation began in 1997. Before her work with the foundation, Mary Jane was a Professional Librarian for 47 years. She also pursued a political career for many years to include being the first woman in Columbus to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Mary Jane was the ninth woman to enter the 180 member House of Representatives and served six terms.

Mrs. Galer’s most recent work with the Foundation has been researching the early stone carvers who came to Columbus. She has implemented a “Stone Carvers Tour”, which she will be speaking about at the upcoming lunch and lecture. The information she will share with us on October 1st will serve as a prelude to the annual Fall Ramble that we have entitled “A Monumental Task”.
We would like to thank Historic Columbus for hosting the luncheon at the Lummus Chapel. They will provide drinks and dessert.

Please contact Historic Columbus to RSVP at 706-322-0756.  Parking for the event will be at chapel.