OHS Students Take Field Trip to Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk

By Shannon Morr, OHS Torch Reporter

At the beginning of October, Olympia High School students took a field trip to the Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk which featured eight actors portraying former historical residents of McLean County.

Each of the eight actors gave a theatrical performance about the life of an important figure who helped shape the history of the McLean County area.  Dressed to play the part, the actors shared about their character’s job, family connections, hobbies, political involvements, and contributions to the community.  

Junior Sierra Priebe said that Matilda Calcote, an African American maid and ship welder, was her favorite character due to her laid-back sense of humor.

The chilly wind and foggy air added to the atmosphere as students from many different schools got to hear the presentations.  Attending from Olympia were three classes: Journalism, Composition 101, and German 3.

Senior Ellie Martin said, “I liked hearing about Dr. Thomas Rogers and his adventures on horseback. It was interesting to hear how Abraham Lincoln helped him in a malpractice suit.”

Very few of the people portrayed were actually famous; most were ordinary people that the museum researched. Each are buried within the Evergreen cemetery.

The Evergreen Cemetery Walk is held annually in October and has been in production for 20 years. It is sponsored by the McLean County Museum of History and the Illinois Voices Theater. 

Students do not typically get to hear about historical figures from central Illinois. The Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk field trip was a unique experience for Olympia High School students.