Ever visited a cemetery and wondered about the lives of those buried hundreds of years ago?
Crowds filled Maple Grove Cemetery on Saturday, October 9 to watch students and volunteer actors replay the roles of note worthy people from the past.
Carl Ballenas, a teacher at the Immaculate Conception School of Jamaica Estates, created a social studies program called the Historical Wax Museum project. Since 2004, this program has brought the youth to meet the challenges of the future by remembering the roots of the past and sharing it with the entire community.
“Spirits Alive is a fantastic way to bring the community into the cemetery,” said Ballenas. “It is also one of the highlights of the year because it introduces the history of Maple Grove Cemetery to a new generation.”
For extra credit, students had the chance to dress up and act out different roles as crowds attentively listened and asked questions.
“This is a great event because I am learning about new people and telling their life story to others,” said Nalisha Rampersaud, 13-year-old student at the Immaculate Conception School. “My speech is based on Mrs. Pollard and her beloved dog Julia who saved her life in January 1889.”
Spirits Alive has become a popular community event and the students were proud to present a number of new figures: Lucia Cataldi, the World War II war bride from Napoli, Italy; Stephanie Grebe, the wife of radio pioneer Alfred Grebe, who danced at the White House Balls in the 1920s; Elizabeth Cisco, who helped end segregation of NYS schools in 1900; and special guest President Theodore Roosevelt, who spoke about his close friendship with Elisabeth and Jacob Riis.
“The people visiting have the chance to walk among the lives that went before them and realize the rich history that has gone on and will go on after we ourselves are gone,” said Dan Guarino, who played the role of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Among the volunteer actresses was Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, who played the role of Stephanie Grebe.
“This event benefits the community because we have the chance to learn valuable education in terms of historic people who are buried in our neighborhood,” Crowley said. “Many of them have also contributed to society.”
Though the actors had a great time playing the roles of past historic figures, many families also had the chance to spend time together while learning more about the history of their community.
“This is a wonderful event, we are all ecstatic on how creative this program is and how they brought all these individuals to life,” said Jean Wesh, who attended the event with his family. “Our kids are having a great time taking notes and this is totally a different look at what the cemetery could be.”
