Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll

This past Sunday, one of my favorite Huntsville events took place- the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. Once a year, over 75 ghosts of Maple Hill Cemetery come above ground and tell their life stories to anyone who wants to listen! This isn’t a spooky event, but rather a history lesson spinning tales of Old Huntsville. I’m a sucker for Huntsville history, so I eat this event up every year! It’s hosted by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, and all donations collected are put towards restoration and preservation of the cemetery.

Maple Hill cemetery is Huntsville’s oldest cemetery, founded in 1822. It sits on almost 100 acres near downtown and contains the remains of over 80,000 people.

There are governors, soldiers, senators, rocket scientists, and more buried at the cemetery. One lady, Mary Chambers Bibb, was accidentally poisoned by a servant just before her wedding and is rumored to be sealed in her mausoleum reclining in her rocking chair wearing her wedding dress.

Although not buried at the cemetery, stage and screen actress Tallulah Bankhead makes an appearance by her mother’s grave. Tallulah was born in Huntsville but left in her early teens for New York. She was known for her stage presence, her deep husky voice, and her off-screen dramatics. She has a number of wonderfully sassy lines, but one of my favorites is:

(On seeing a former lover for the first time in years)
“I thought I told you to wait in the car.”

Another cemetery resident is the “Gypsy Queen.” When Lena Mitchell, a prominant Gypsy palm reader, died in the 1950s, over 300 gypsies attended her funeral. It is customary for gypsies to be buried with all their treasure, and mourners sprinkle coins over the coffin before it is buried. Because of the wealth buried with gypsies when they die, they are often not interred where their markers are. People believe Lena Mitchell is buried nearby, but they’re not too sure!

Probably my favorite Huntsville story is that of Lily Flagg the milk cow. In 1892, Samuel Moore’s jersey cow Lily Flagg was the world’s top butter producer. She was taken to the Chicago World’s Fair and was the belle of the ball. When she returned to Huntsville, Samuel Moore threw a massive party for her at his mansion. Some of the first electric lights in Huntsville were used to light the dance floor, and Lily Flagg herself was in attendance!

I always have fun at the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll, and I learn something new every year! I vlogged while I was walking around, so if you want to see more, check out my Youtube channel!

xoxo Katie