Three Valley Museum has canceled a planned “ghost stories” historical tour at Highland Cemetery, following a storm of protests on the social media website Facebook.
The museum, in conjunction with the Bryan County Genealogy Society, had planned the event Oct. 27, and it would have chronicled the lives of six individuals and involved people dressed in period clothing. The event was to be a fundraiser for both organizations.
After an article about it appeared in the Sunday Durant Daily Democrat, many current and former residents began speaking out against it on Facebook, calling the event, “disrespectful,” “a mockery” and “crass.” Some residents were also planning to protest at today’s Durant City Council meeting.
Many also expressed concern that loved one’s graves would be “trampled on.”
“Highland is a small-town cemetery where generations of families past and present gather to honor and mourn, reflect and connect spiritually,” a former Durant resident wrote. “These moments are conducted in a peaceful and private setting as it should be. Highland is not a Hollywood tour destination that touts the legends of deceased celebrities and should not be treated as such.”
TVM, on its Facebook page, initially said the event was not intended to upset anyone and that it was to tell the history of different people who were important to Durant.
Following more protests, TVM announced Monday on Facebook that the event was canceled.
“The Three Valley Museum had planned a walking history tour of Durant to be held at the Highland Cemetery,” TVM said, on its Facebook page. “This tour would be on the paved roadways and would take people near the graves of some of Durant’s historical figures. These historical figures would have been actor portrayed by Durant citizens. Many people objected to this effort at preserving our history by assuming this would involve grave desecration by trampling on graves and it would be insulting to the family of other deceased people by having a history tour in the cemetery. Out of respect to the people who are upset at the thought of this event being held at that location, the event is being cancelled.
“The museum operates through donations and through the efforts of volunteers. The Board members are not paid, but donate a significant amount of their time to try to preserve the history of Durant. Often it is difficult to find volunteers to give their time for this cause. It appears that there are many people who have taken a personal interest in the preservation of the history of Durant. Please consider this an invitation for you to come to the board meetings and to give of your time as a volunteer for the museum.”
“It’s sad that this event was misunderstood by so many,” said Nancy Ferris, curator of TVM. “The research that the women (from Bryan County Genealogy Society) did into these historical lives was to be an event to honor and remember the way life was for them.”
As a former citizen of Durant with relatives buried in Highland Cemetery, I extend my condolences for the belligerent behavior of others toward your organizations due to the intended historical tour. In the postings, I saw name calling, unfounded accusations such as "grave tramping" and exaggerated terms such as "Halloween party" used to describe the tour.
I cannot help but wonder if any of the protestors actually telephoned your offices and spoke with the volunteer planners, or if it was all conducted behind the wall of social media with no attempt to first inquire or listen to the official details.
This tour seems to be perceived as something unusual, as if other cemeteries would never do such a thing, which is simply not the case. Cemetery tours, even moonlit ones, conducted tastefully and respectfully, are a unique and memorable way to preserve and share the history of outstanding individuals buried within their fences. They are conducted regularly throughout the country. Contrary to what these protestors maintain, there is no surge in cemetery vandalism as a result. (Vandals don't usually pay tour fees and conduct their mischief within those times.) This was to be a guided tour, along the street paths, not a party in which participants would be allowed to freely roam on top of graves. On this I'm guessing, but as far as I know, no deceased individual buried within toured cemeteries has ever been disturbed.
Undoubtedly, many hours of research and planning have now been lost. I sincerely hope those with loud voices/typing fingers will somehow find a way to extend a helping hand by volunteering their time or donating their own monetary resources now that they've succeeded in convincing you to cancel the scheduled tours.