Lunch and Learn: Frederick’s “Stories in Stone”

Frederick’s Mount Olivet Cemetery is “a museum without walls.” Opened in 1854 as part of the famed “Garden Cemetery Movement,” Mount Olivet was clearly a progressive endeavor for a small town such as Frederick at the time. Today, Mount Olivet remains active as a site of over 40,000 burials while readily welcoming “tombstone tourists,” family genealogists and reverent recreation lovers. As a mirror on Frederick’s past, it reflects people buried here having unique ties to local, state and national events. Cemetery historian and preservation manager Chris Haugh will discuss the cemetery’s interesting beginning and introduce participants to some of the interesting characters that repose within its gates as he does each week through walking tours and his popular weekly blog entitled, “Stories in Stone” (recently celebrating its 5th anniversary.) A few of the obvious subjects are Francis Scott Key, Civil War heroine Barbara Fritchie, and Maryland’s first governor Thomas Johnson, Jr.

Chris Haugh has a resume filled with award-winning local history presentations. Many were performed as an employee with GS Communications and the Tourism Council of Frederick County. Today, Chris stays busy with a mission to promote and preserve the rich history of Frederick’s Mount Olivet Cemetery, all the while running his own business entitled History Shark Productions. He writes a weekly internet blog for Mount Olivet entitled “Stories in Stone,” and oversees the Mount Olivet Preservation and Enhancement Fund and the newly launched “Friends of Mount Olivet” membership group. Chris is a frequent lecturer throughout the area and also teaches public history courses for Frederick Community College’s Institute for Learning in Retirement.

ASL interpretation will be available for attendees.