A leisurely stroll through Prospect Cemetery in Brackenridge on Thursday evening will turn up prominent figures from the past brought to life by local actors who revel in Alle-Kiski Valley history.
Henry Brackenridge will be among those portrayed at the cemetery’s annual ghost tour. The borough is named for the congressman, judge and author who lived there in the 1800s.
His story during the Halloween-themed event will join others of those buried there, including John Long, the borough’s first mayor, and Samuel Gardner, an Allegheny County district attorney.
Registering for a tour time is suggested.
“There is so much history in this Valley,” organizer Cindy Homburg said. “I love it, and I love to share it with others.”
Among those buried in the cemetery’s 13,000 graves are Civil War soldiers, teachers, judges, socialites, Revolutionary War soldiers and legislators.
Elizabeth Harrison Bridge, the daughter of the man who founded nearby Harrison Township, is buried there, as are several early settlers, Homburg said.
Many of the graves are without markers.
During the ghost tour, about 15 actors will be costumed in period clothing for better effect.
“The man who portrays Brackenridge will wear a black robe and top hat, since he was a judge,” Homburg said. “We have a Civil War uniform and a decorated horseman.”
Henry Brackenridge is a crowd favorite, she said, and is featured every year. He donated the land for the cemetery in the 1800s and also is the founder of Tarentum.
Some of the cemetery’s original records were lost in the 1936 St. Patrick’s Day flood. The office was located on lower ground in Tarentum and got washed out.
The ghost tour, a tradition since 2010, was forced to take a break last year because of the pandemic, but Homburg said she received a slew of phone calls from disappointed patrons.
“It’s very unique and fun and spooky,” Homburg said.
Tour guides carry lanterns. Participants are welcome to bring a flashlight.
More than 200 people are expected to attend, according to Homburg.
“I love the cemetery, and I have a special passion for it,” she said. “To see the enjoyment that people get, that’s why we do it.”
