James Harrod Trust History Underfoot Cemetery Tour

James Harrod Trust is hosting the eighth annual “History Underfoot” Cemetery Tour on Friday and Saturday, September 16 and 17 at Spring Hill Cemetery. The focus of the event will be on education and entertainment – edutainment – while “visiting” with some of Harrodsburg and Mercer County’s ancestors. The early residents of Harrodsburg and Mercer County – some of whom may be infamous – will share stories and relive a little Mercer County and Kentucky history.

James Harrod Trust members and friends guide the tours, which begin at 6:30 p.m. The tours will feature visits to approximately five gravesites. At each grave, the costumed interpreters will be in character leading a discussion about the lives of their subjects.
This year’s cast and cast of characters includes:

• Richard Stallings will portray Philip Trapnall. Mr. Trapnall was an early entrepreneur. A Mercer County businessman, he helped establish the Oregon community through his financial backing and investments. He was also involved in the financial panic and crisis of the 1820. He purchased the stained glass windows at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Harrodsburg.
• Louise Isham Dean will read an original poem written about Ann Coburn Harrod, wife of James Harrod.
• Annie Denny will portray Minnie Ball Moore, a local society matron who will reflect not only on her position in society, but on the events and traditions from her day.
•  David Coleman will portray William Pogue, an early settler in Harrodsburg. Mr. Pogue was a member of Harrod’s Company that established Fort Harrod. This early pioneer also explored parts of Kentucky with Daniel Boone. He was the founder of the Pogue family in Kentucky. He and his wife, Ann Kennedy Pogue, had three children. Their oldest daughter, Ann Pogue, was the first white female child born in Kentucky. Mr. Pogue will be visiting from his final resting place at the Fort Hill Cemetery.
•  Amalie Preston will portray Sarah Redmond, an early Harrodsburg midwife. Redman was a woman ahead of her time. She moved to Harrodsburg from Bardstown after her husband died to be near her brother, Col. Richard M. Sutfield. As a widow of independent financial means, she was also an astute businesswoman and developer.  Rather than leading a life of leisure, she chose instead to be a midwife, delivering many of Harrodsburg's and Mercer County's babies for three decades.
• Doris and Truman Bartleston will portray Sophie and Richard Morton, a husband and wife team who will be visiting from Maple Grove Cemetery. Richard and Sophie Morton were both born in slavery, but died free. He fought in the Civil War as part of Company K and achieved the rank of sergeant. The Mortons were married around 1871 – after the war had ended and black men and women could apply for marriage licenses. Their daughter, Lulie Belle, became at teacher in the Harrodsburg School System.
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