Last year I offered, in connection with the Rock County Historical Society, for the first time, a twilight tour of Oak Hill. Unlike my usual Saturday morning casual walks that emphasize early settlers and others who built up our town one way or another, I lead these late afternoon walks in costume, and the emphasis here is on the eerie. Think horrific accidental deaths, murder, and folks who claimed to be clairvoyants and mediums. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at having local mediums, since Janesville is fairly close to Whitewater, which was at one time headquarters of the Morris Pratt Institute, a school for spiritualists. Last year the tours were very popular and more folks wanted to attend than I could accommodate.
This year I will again be leading tours, this time six of them, and I hope there is enough interest to make the extra walks worthwhile. There is a minimal charge of $5 that goes to support the RCHS, and tickets can be ordered here.
The tours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday the first two weeks of October. Each tour starts at the chapel, and lasts just under an hour, from five o'clock in the afternoon until six. People who attend should dress for the weather, which can be a little chilly in October, and wear sensible footwear. Also, be aware that there are no bathroom facilities at the cemetery.
That said, people last year seemed to enjoy the tour, both the stories and the shadowy atmosphere of Oak Hill at that time of day. We never saw the Lady in White last year, but this year, who knows?
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