Again, the dead walk among us

It's another sold-out year for the Sebastopol Cemetery Walk

Photos by Mark Fernquest/Text by Laura Hagar Rush

It’s Cemetery Walk weekend in Sebastopol. The actual event sold out weeks ago, so we thought we’d give you a little peek at the action.

For those new to town, the Sebastopol Cemetery Walk is an annual event where locals dress up as the dear departed and do skits about their lives at their gravesides in the Sebastopol Cemetery. It is sponsored by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society.

Emilie Frazer Robinson (1913-1966). Born in England, Emilie (played by Selena Polston) was a Sebastopol correspondent for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat from 1949 until her death.  She had lived in California for 45 years.  She was also a noted dog breeder. 

The Burial of John Sebring (1848 to 1859). John Sebring came to this area in the early 1850s with his parents Thomas and Margaret Sebring (played by Steve Einstein and Emily Webster), making them among the earliest settlers.  At age 17, John died.  His burial, in 1859 was the first in this cemetery. The parents of John tell about his early death, how Sebastopol got its name, plus more. 

Albert Huntley (1882-1953). A man with several careers, Mr. Huntley worked as a fireman, then engineer for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad.  He was an orchardist, briefly working his father’s 80 acre farm in Sebastopol.  Huntley bought the Starland, Sebastopol’s silent movie theater, from George Glum in 1909, which he operated until the “talkies” era in the 1930s.  Above, Huntley (played by Joe Ambrosio, right) talks with a salesman (played by Paul Menconi, left).

John Francis Triggs (1874-1951). Mr. Triggs (played by Steve Fowler) moved to Sebastopol in 1914 from Graton. Originally from Nebraska, he had worked there for the local power company and ran a feed business.  He had many occupations locally: carpenter, paperhanger, painter, bicycle shop owner, and auto parts store owner and auto agent, and musician. 

Amelia Hillard Kidwell  (1894-1957). A native of Pennsylvania, Amelia had lived in Sebastopol most of her life.  She was City Clerk from 1945-1956 and owned Ann’s Dress Shoppe on Main Street.  (Actors: Amelia Kidwell played by Lorri Levy-Comer (right). Helen Savage (her friend) played by Darylan Stratten (left). Kathryn Ann Kidwell (daughter) played by Denise Eufusia (center).)

Anita Duncan Laton (1895-1981).  Anita was born at Duncan Mills.  Her family was in the logging/lumber business.  A University of California Berkeley graduate, she taught at San Jose State for 26 years.  Her father, Alfred, was mayor of Sebastopol in 1906 during the earthquake. (Above, Anita Laton played by Brenda Nichols; Alfred Laton (Anita’s father) played by Richard Nichols)