History came to life at Maple Grove Cemetery’s Spirits Alive walking tour on October 9. Visitors walked through the cemetery’s grounds in Kew Gardens and came face-to-face with actors portraying historical figures buried within the cemetery. Such notables whose final resting place is Maple Grove include Civil War surgeon Dr. Dennler, rhythm and blues singer LaVern Baker, and movie director Irving Rapper.
“Cemeteries tell stories,” said Bonnie Thompson Dixon, the executive vice president and general manager of Maple Grove.
The intention of Spirits Alive was to demonstrate to visitors that the dead have a story to tell. Each and every gravestone, like that of Mama Doe, has a unique and sometimes sad story behind it.
Mama Doe was a homeless woman who lived in Grand Central Station in the 1980s. She was humble, kind and well liked by those who knew her. She touched many that she met and all affectionately called her “mama,” though nobody knew her real name.
On Christmas Eve of 1985, when Grand Central was closed at 1:30 a.m., Mama Doe spent the night coughing and sneezing on the city streets. When the station reopened again at 5:30 a.m., she entered the building, lay down on a bench and went to sleep, never to wake again.
This story was reenacted beautifully by Andrea Crawford, who reincarnated the spirit of Mama Doe. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley donned a period costume as Stephanie Grebe, the wife of radio pioneer Alfred Grebe. Many more stories were told on the walking tour, some touching, some inspiring and some that were even funny.
“Cemeteries should be thought of as places to go and celebrate the past,” said Dixon.
The 65-acre Maple Grove Cemetery is located at 127-15 Kew Gardens Road in Kew Gardens. For information on more upcoming events at Maple Grove Cemetery call (718) 544-3600 or visit their website.
