MY MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR

Gerald and I visited the Washington Court House Cemetery for the Washington Cemetery Walking Tour sponsored by the Fayette County Garden Clubs. The purpose of the event was to provide information about the Fayette County dignitaries buried there. We toured the Civil War Encampment, Fountain, Civil War Statue, Community Mausoleum, Forgotten Soldiers, Civil War Wife, Phenology Garden, Boy Scout Demonstration, Andrew Creamer grave, Henry Wendle Mausoleum, Past Sheriff, Mail Wagon, and Vintage Hearse. It was good to learn about the Judy Chapel, its history and restoration.

All of those were very interesting but our favorites were:

Our neighbor Debbie Roby, who was inside the Judy Chapel, gave a very interesting presentation about the artist Bess Bruce Cleaveland. There were a number of Cleaveland's paintings on display and I especially enjoyed the ones outside the artist's usual genre. The vintage clothing display was also nice.

Linda Morgan gave a speech about the WTCL and and I was surprised to learn that it is still an active organization, defending victims of abuse. She had her hatchet ready to wield against any miscreants.


We spoke with Gerald's former teacher Donald Moore who told us about the Morris Sharp Family. I knew that the Museum was the former Morris Sharp home, but Mr. Moore provided us with much greater information: e.g. the Sharp Memorial on the Court House Square was donated by Morris Sharp's widow; Mal Daugherty was one of Sharp's pallbearers; Sharp ran for Governor on the Prohibition Party ticket. I especially like the quote from Mr. Sharp: he once said "that his education and largely all he knew came from talking to people who knew more than he did."


Hannah Case, who was supposed to tell us about the poet May Duffee, instead wanted to tell us about Layfayette.






Bob Elliott, Gerald's friend and high school classmate, was at the Harry Daugherty site. I have read several books about the Harding administration and Harry Daugherty's role as Attorney General and the Teapot Dome scandal, the Harding cottage, and Roxy Stinson. Bob's presentation was very thorough and as we went inside the mausoleum Bob revealed several interesting aspects of other members of the Daugherty family.

When people from outside Fayette County ask me about our county I always say that we have only two famous people from Fayette County and they're both criminals--Art Schlichter and Harry Daugherty--now I can tell them about Bess Bruce Cleaveland, May Duffee and Morris Sharp!


Not a part of the tour, but a beautiful Celtic Cross on the grave of the Smith family was a beautiful sight to behold!