The Ozark Historic Preservation Commission Hosts First Cemetery Tour to Welcome Fall

The chill running down your spine could come from the cooling temperatures, or it could be from the spooky stories told at the first-ever Cemetery Tour hosted by the Ozark Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) on Tuesday, October 22. John Cawley, Managing Funeral Director at Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home, led a group of residents and visitors on a tour of Ozark’s oldest graves, sharing fascinating historical tidbits and bringing the people buried there to life.

“I love history,” says Cawley. “I love talking about it. And inviting me to talk about the dead makes sense.”

Cawley is an expert in the history of Ozark and confidently walks past the various graves and mausoleums. He brought his passion for the region and its residents—both living and dead—to this opportunity.

The Cemetery Tour sold out long before the event took place, but don’t worry if you missed out. The HPC is considering bringing back and there are plenty of other Halloween events to enjoy in Ozark-Dale County. 

Get to Know the Graves in Ozark 

The Cemetery Tour isn’t a difficult walk, but it covers a significant number of graves across multiple plots in Ozark. Cawley can’t cover everything in just one tour, but participants (and those who couldn’t get tickets) can visit Ozark’s graves in their own time. Here are a few of the cemeteries in the region, along with the notable graves inside.

• Claybank Cemetery: Several notable Ozark families are buried in this cemetery.
• Morning View Cemetery: this is where the founder of Ozark, John Merrick, is buried.
• Union Cemetery: this is where you can find the grave of a Revolutionary War soldier. 
• Westview Cemetery: this is where you can find the resting place of a historic congressman and several older headstones. 

Visitors can enjoy just one of Ozark’s cemeteries or spend time in multiple to learn about the region. Each cemetery is well-maintained to respect the people buried there. 

What Visitors Experienced on the Tour

Tour attendees were regaled with stories of various residents and events that shaped Dale County. Participants were asked to bring a flashlight so they could navigate the terrain, especially if the tour left the main path.

“The flashlight is for safety reasons,” says Cawley. “We don’t want anyone to trip or get hurt.”

After the cemetery tour, participants headed to Harlow’s for a special speakeasy experience. The bar created a cocktail just for the tour, called Black Widow’s Bite, celebrating the cemeterial history of Ozark.

Despite the seemingly dark subject matter, Cawley says most people don’t have trouble talking about the dead. Learning who lived here before them is a great way to see where Ozark came from and shaped what it looks like now.

“The most recent burial in our cemetery tour was in 1935,” says Cawley. “So we aren’t talking about the recently deceased. This tour might not be for everybody, but those who sign up want to talk about who is buried here.”   

This Tour Supports Tourism Efforts in Dale County 

This year’s cemetery tour sold out quickly and the HPC hopes to make it an annual event. In the future, it could evolve to include costume characters or occur multiple times per year, depending on the support from the local community.

The cemetery tour is just one investment in Ozark’s tourism industry. Members of the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ozark-Dale Economic Development Corporation (ODEDC) sit on the HPC and plan to balance historic preservation with plans for growth in Dale County.

“Dale County is full of rich history but also has the opportunity for fun and tourism attraction,” says Holle Smith, president of ODEDC and an active member of the HPC. “We feel like this cemetery tour is a great way to promote both strong assets of our community.”  

The HPC is a relatively new commission, founded just two years ago. Its main focus is to create events and activities in Ozark that help people engage with its history. This cemetery tour is a great example of exciting residents and visitors about Ozark's history. 

Enjoy Other Fall Events in Ozark

If you missed this year’s cemetery tour, you can always mark your calendar for next year’s event. In the meantime, check out the various events, festivals, and activities that make fall fun in Ozark. Not only are there several trick-or-treating events across the city, but there are additional fall things to do throughout November.  

The community engagement and excitement about events like this cemetery tour are what make Dale County a great place to live. This region has a high quality of life, whether your neighbors are carving fall pumpkins or planting spring flowers. Come see what everyone is talking about in Ozark – even the dead have stories to tell.